On Thursday, the Rajasthan High Court expressed concerns regarding the absence of dedicated wards and facilities for transgender individuals in government hospitals and care centers.

During the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL), the court set the matter for final disposal on November 14.

The division bench, consisting of Justices Shree Chandrashekhar and Madan Gopal Vyas, heard arguments from the petitioner, Sambhali Trust, represented by counsel Shivani Singh. Singh contended that the transgender communities in the state are deprived of essential welfare facilities.

She emphasized that hospitals only provide wards and facilities for men and women, leaving transgender individuals without inclusive medical infrastructure and subjecting them to various challenges. Singh further noted that members of the transgender community often face societal stigma and unique perceptions. Without dedicated facilities, they experience discomfort when seeking treatment alongside other patients.

She pointed out that states like Maharashtra have already set up dedicated hospital wards for transgender individuals, while Rajasthan has yet to take similar initiatives.

The bench observed, “Under Section 15 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, transgender individuals have a legal right to accessible healthcare in hospitals and health institutions.”

However, Singh argued that these provisions are not being effectively implemented in Rajasthan.

The court also noted, “We observe that, due to laxity on the part of the respondent-State in filing a response in the present proceeding, the right to file a counter affidavit was forfeited on September 19, 2024. This matter has since appeared on the board multiple times. Despite this, state counsel Anita Rajpurohit requested a further adjournment.”