SC seeks response to transgender-inclusive sex education plea , Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Union government, NCERT, and several States regarding the integration of transgender-inclusive sexuality education in school curricula.
• A Bench of CJI Bhushan R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran issued the notice following a petition by Kaavya Mukherjee Saha.
• The petition highlights the non-implementation of the Supreme Court’s 2014 judgment in National Legal Services Authority v Union of India regarding comprehensive sexuality education.
• NCERT admitted via RTI that it has “no information” on the introduction of transgender-inclusive material in its curriculum.

Detailed Insights:

• The petition alleges that NCERT and most SCERTs have failed to include examinable modules on gender identity, gender diversity, and the distinction between sex and gender.
• This failure is a violation of Sections 2(d) and 13 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which mandates the inclusion of transgender perspectives.
• Textbook reviews from multiple states including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka reveal systemic omissions in sexuality education.
• The petitioner argues that these omissions violate the right to equality and undermine the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Education encompassing gender identity, diversity, and distinction between sex and gender.
• Gender Sensitization: The process of understanding and addressing gender-based discrimination and promoting gender equality.
• Transgender-inclusive perspective: Incorporating the experiences, rights, and needs of transgender individuals in policies and practices.