The petitioner claimed that there was no column on the online application form for the recruitment examination that allowed transgenders to apply for the position.
This week, the State of West Bengal informed the Calcutta High Court that a transgender person was permitted to sit for the test for the post of Sub-Inspector/Lady Sub-Inspector of the Kolkata Police (In the case of Pallabi Chakraborty v State of West Bengal & Ors).
Following the Calcutta High Court’s request for the State government’s answer in a writ case filed by a transgender petitioner on September 6, a decision was made to this effect.
The applicant claimed before the High Court that there was no column in the online application form for the recruitment examination for the job of Sub-Inspector/Sub-Inspectress and Sergeant in the Kolkata Police for the year 2021 that allowed transgenders to apply.
On Wednesday, the Court was informed that the West Bengal government had decided on September 14 to allow the transgender person to take the exam.
In this light, Justice Arindam Mukherjee’s bench stated in its order,
“Due to the adequate interference of the State Council, the Government of West Bengal has decided to allow transgender people to sit for the examination for recruitment to the post of Sub-Inspector/Lady Sub-Inspector (unarmed branch).”
The Court praised the government’s fast action and the government’s involvement on behalf of the State’s counsel.
The Calcutta High Court dismissed the writ petition because the central issue in the petition had been resolved.
“The petitioner’s grievance, for enabling age relaxation to allow the petitioner to apply as a transgender and other problems may be aired by the petitioner by filing suitable representation to the concerned body,” the Court added in its judgement.
The petitioner was represented by attorneys Joveria Sabbah and Mobina Ali. The State was represented by Sutapa Sanyal and Susnita Saha.
