Should eunuchs be given reservation in government services in the category of handicapped persons? This is an issue being considered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Apprising the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the issue is under consideration, counsel for the Union of India, advocate Omkar Singh Batalvi expressed his personal opinion last week.

Submitting that eunuchs should be allowed reservation keeping in view their “disability”, Batalvi said that if given an opportunity, eunuchs could also prove their mettle. He said since eunuchs are left out by the society, they never get an opportunity to make a future for themselves.

Stating that eunuchs should be considered in the category of handicapped persons, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Mahesh Grover asked the Central government to consider the demand made in a public interest litigation (PIL) by an eunuch. On March 26 last year, the High Court had issued notices to the Union of India; states of Punjab, Haryana and the Chandigarh Administration on a PIL filed by Kajal Mangal Mukhi, a eunuch and resident of Sector 35, Chandigarh.

The eunuch had sought directions for the states to allow eunuchs to join government services. Kajal had taken the stand that despite being professionally and academically competent, eunuchs are not allowed to join government service. Reservation in government jobs for eunuchs was also sought.