Rajasthan HC Raises Concern Over Lack of Dedicated Hospital Wards for Transgender Community

The Rajasthan High Court has voiced serious concerns about the absence of separate wards and facilities for transgender individuals in government hospitals and care centers across the state and during a public interest litigation (PIL) hearing filed by Sambhali Trust, represented by advocate Shivani Singh, the division bench of justices Shree Chandrashekhar and Madan Gopal Vyas highlighted the challenges faced by transgender individuals in accessing inclusive medical care. The court scheduled the matter for a final hearing on November 14.

Singh argued that the lack of dedicated healthcare facilities leaves transgender patients uncomfortable, forcing them to receive treatment in common wards that only accommodate men and women. She emphasized that, unlike other states such as Maharashtra, Rajasthan has not yet implemented separate wards for transgender individuals, resulting in a gap in necessary healthcare infrastructure.

The court noted that under Section 15 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, transgender individuals are legally entitled to accessible healthcare. However, it also observed that Rajasthan has not fully implemented these provisions, and the state’s failure to respond to earlier proceedings led to the forfeiture of its right to file a counter affidavit on September 19. Despite multiple appearances on the court board, the state counsel requested additional time for a response.

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