The Chandigarh Administration recently informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that a scheme known as 'Garima Grah' for the establishment of a shelter for transgender people has already been floated and is expected to be implemented soon. The submissions were made before Justice Sudhir Mittal's bench in a writ petition filed by a transgender student pursuing a post-graduate course at Panjab University who was dissatisfied with the university's lack of proper hostel accommodation.

The Court then noted that the petitioner had previously filed complaints with the UT Administration in this regard, but no relief was granted, prompting the Court to emphasise that, "it was essential to ensure that bodies such as the Transgender Welfare Board of UT acquire teeth and do not remain cosmetic features."

The Court then examined the operations of the Transgender Welfare Board, Chandigarh, noting that, despite being established prior to the passage of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, it had only held seven meetings. The High Court had requested that the Chairman of the Transgender Welfare Board be present before it on December 15. Amit Kumar, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh who also serves as the Chairman of the Transgender Welfare Board, appeared in court last week.
Concerning the petitioner's relief, Justice Mittal stated:

"Since the petitioner has already been granted accommodation in the working women hostel, the writ petition has been rendered infructuous and is disposed of as such."

Case Title: Yashika Alias Ashish v. Panjab University, Chandigarh and Others
Citation: Civil Writ Petition No.5782 of 2022
Link:

https://phhc.gov.in/home.php?search_param=judgement