TN Govt: Amends to Police Conduct Rules due to Harassment of LGBTQIA+ members

Chaini Parwani-

Published On: October 05, 2021 at 16:11 IST

The State Home Secretary of Tamil Nadu briefed Madras High Court that the Director General of Policeis working to bring amendments to Police Conduct Rules to punish Police personnel who harass members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Justice Anand Venkatesh stated, “This Court appreciates the seriousness with which the State Government has taken up the issue seriously”

The State Government’s submission was made while the High Court was hearing a Case relating to alleged police harassment of a same-sex couple, represented by Advocate S. Manuraj.

The Judge asked the Tamil Nadu Judicial Academy to file a report on steps taken to supervise sensitization programs for Judicial Officers.

Additional Solicitor General R Sankaranarayanan said the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment deals only with matters related to transgender and that others were taken care by the Union Home Ministry.

Henceforth, the Judge suo motu involved the Home Ministry as a Respondent to the case and ordered a notification.

Futhermore, the Judge mentioned,“It would have a huge impact if a single person from the LGBTQIA+ community is elevated as a judge of a High Court.”

The Court also stated that insensitive reporting by a section of the media about people belonging to the queer community cannot be normalized.

Justice Anand Venkatesh also made a advice to the National Medical Commission to reform the medical education curriculum so that doctors do not turn to any conversion therapy with the silly notion that there is a treatment for gender/sexual orientation.

Although, the National Medical Commission informed the court that it is busy with NEET and needs time to determine upon changing the medical curriculum.

Also Read: Communicate in English with Tamil Nadu: Madras HC tells Centre

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