The Transport Department will submit a revised plan within a week.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
NEW DELHI
The Delhi government has told the High Court that its proposal to provide free travel for transgender persons on the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses is at an “advanced stage” and awaits Cabinet approval.
The submission was made in an affidavit filed by the Joint Commissioner of the Transport Department before Justice Amit Sharma during the hearing of a contempt petition. The plea alleged “wilful disobedience” of an October 2022 Division Bench order directing authorities to decide within four months on extending free bus travel to the transgender community and recognising them as a “third gender” in tickets.
The 2022 order had followed a public interest litigation filed by activist Amit Juyal, who said that the DTC tickets only carried “male” and “female” categories. In its affidavit, the government said a draft Cabinet note for free bus passes for transgender persons had been placed before Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh. However, he returned the file, directing the scheme to follow the same model as women’s free travel, where pink tickets are issued. “The department is revising the plan accordingly and will submit it within a week,” the affidavit stated. Mr. Juyal told The Hindu the prolonged delay has caused “undue hardship”. Earlier, in April 2023, the High Court warned the DTC against “protracted inaction”.
Published – September 15, 2025 01:31 am IST
