The Madras High Court on Tuesday asked the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to pull from its website a teaching manual aimed at sensitizing school teachers and administrators to address the needs of transgender children and those with binary identity. is forced. ,
Justice N Anand Venkatesh, who took up a case for recognition of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and other such (LGBTQIA+) community in all walks of life, said that the NCERT An important step has been taken. By creating a training manual for teachers who act as a bridge between children and parents.
The sensitization will have to start in schools and at home and without the support of the family the children of this community will never be able to get help elsewhere. Only teachers can make ignorant parents aware. Hence, the NCERT had brought out the material properly after a thorough research by a committee to sensitize the teachers on this issue.
“However, in a very shocking development, the material posted on the official website of NCERT was taken down within hours of its publication due to pressure from some quarters.” The judge wrote in his interim order and cited media reports that the persons responsible for developing the material have been transferred.
“This court is unable to comprehend the need for such knee-jerk reaction within a few hours of the material being uploaded on the website. If anyone really had any grievance, it should have been addressed in a proper manner through proper consultations and meetings and no one can be allowed to crush the state-run council,” the judge said.
He further added: “It is quite unfortunate that such a significant development was suppressed at the outset. This development only reminds this court that there is a need for continuous follow-up action to bring about a change in the existing education system. The court hopes that the NCERT will understand the concern expressed by this court.
After directing the council to submit its report on the issue before the court on 23 December, the judge said: “In a democratic country like India, discussion and consultation should be the basis of any policy and coercive tactics should be used in any policy.” cannot be allowed to shut down the policy, and if such an attitude is encouraged, it becomes a major threat to the fabric of this nation.”
The judge also noted that the National Medical Commission had complied with an earlier court order and issued an advisory on October 13 to correct unscientific perceptions about the LGBTQIA+ community in MBBS curriculum. Complimenting the NMC for doing so, he hoped that it would be done by Advocate S. Will act on the suggestions given by Manuraj and others.
The court commended the state government for amending the Tamil Nadu Police Subordinate Services Rules and providing for disciplinary action against those who harass the LGBTQIA+ community and work for the welfare of the community.
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