Chennai: Chennai’s K Prithika Yashini will soon become India’s first transgender Sub Inspector of Police.
The Madras High Court has declared the 25-year-old as a fit candidate, paving the way for her appointment as Sub Inspector by the Tamil Nadu Government. The court has also directed the recruitment board to make changes to draw transgenders to the state police force.
Born and brought up as a boy named Pradeep Kumar, the young Computer Applications graduate turned into Prithika after a sex change surgery. But it was an arduous journey for her.
Her application was first rejected as the state police recruitment board doesn’t have a third gender category. There’s no quota or concessional cut off in written exam, physical examination or interview too for transgenders, NDTV reported.
Prithika, however, was relentless. She filed a series of writ petitions which resulted in examination cut off marks being lowered from 28.5 to 25 in her case. She also qualified in all physical tests. Only in the 100 metres dash, she was late by one second, but that was accepted.
“I’m excited. It’s a new beginning for the entire transgender community,” said Prithika, who wants to become an IPS officer.
Her advocate, Bhavani, who has represented similar cases for other transgenders trying for government jobs, said, “This order would open new opportunities for many transgenders.”
Though the Tamil Nadu government has opened the doors of colleges for transgenders and has been proactive in their welfare, opportunity for the third gender in government jobs was elusive for many. In Madurai, the district police had appointed transgenders as Home Guards on a daily wage basis.