The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Chief Secretary to file a compliance report on the court’s directive to the Tamil Nadu government to formulate a comprehensive rehabilitation scheme for transgender persons at the taluk level.

Justice K.K. Ramakrishnan, in the order dated April 24, 2026, had directed the State government to formulate a comprehensive rehabilitation scheme for transgender persons at the taluk level, to open up avenues of self-employment and sustainable livelihood and secure a life of dignity for them, and ensure their meaningful inclusion in society, besides implementing welfare schemes tailored to their needs.

The court had directed the Chief Secretary to coordinate with all the departments concerned to ensure effective and time-bound implementation of the measures, and file a compliance report on or before July 26.

Pursuant to the court order, the Chief Secretary had filed a status report. The court said it found there was no compliance with the court directions in the status report and directed the Chief Secretary to file a compliance report on or before August 21.

The court had expressed profound sorrow as justice had not been done adequately for transpersons and took judicial notice of the prevailing socio-economic conditions of transpersons. In order to remedy this situation, the court deemed it appropriate to issue directions to the government to formulate a comprehensive rehabilitation scheme at the taluk level.

Court directions

The court issues appropriate directions to the government to undo, as far as possible, the historical wrongs inflicted upon transgender persons, and secure for them a life of dignity, equality, and meaningful inclusion as equal participants in the social order, and to alleviate their cosmic sadness and frame and implement effective social welfare measures to enable them to self-sufficiently attain full development with the creation of meaningful economic opportunities, access to education, healthcare, and other essential resources, and to ensure that transgender persons are brought into the mainstream of society, the judge had said.

Published - August 09, 2026 12:01 am IST