Eunuchs Act : Telangana
The Telangana High Court recently made a significant ruling ,striking down the Telangana Eunuchs Act of 1919.
- The court found the Act to be unconstitutional, infringing upon the rights of transgender individuals and undermining their equality, privacy, and dignity.
- Specifically, the Act was found to contravene Article 14, which guarantees the right to equality, and Article 21, which protects the right to privacy and dignity.
- By imposing mandatory registration requirements on eunuchs and imposing restrictive measures on their attire and activities, the Act impinged upon their fundamental rights.
- Originally known as the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Eunuchs Act, the legislation was enacted in 1919 within the Hyderabad Nizam’s dominions.
- It primarily targeted individuals defined as “eunuchs,” encompassing those who self-identified as impotent or displayed impotence on medical inspection.
- The Act compelled eunuchs to register with authorities and provided provisions for their monitoring.
