Madras high court

CHENNAI: In a reprieve to three transsexual candidates whose applications for the recruitment to the post of grade-II police constables were rejected as age-barred, the Madras high court has directed the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) to accept their applications and permit them to attend the examinations.

"Since an important issue has been raised in these writ petitions in regard to the relaxation of age of the petitioners and the like, which require critical appreciation and examination by this court and also the fact that the balance of convenience is in favour of the petitioners, the TNUSRB is directed to allow them to write the exam," Justice V Parthiban said.

Making it clear that the interim order is passed without prejudice to the rights of the parties in these writ petitions, the court adjourned the hearing. The court passed the interim order on the pleas moved by Deepika and two others. They wanted the court to direct the board to increase the age limit from 26 to 45 for appointment of people belonging to the third gender community to the post of grade-II constables in the state.

According to petitioner, the board called for candidatures from women and transsexuals for filling up 2,465 grade-II constable posts in a notification in March.

It prescribed the age limit of 24 years for candidates belonging to general category, 26 years for BC, MBC and denotified communities, 29 years for SCs/STs, 35 years for widows and 45 for ex-servicewomen.

Pointing out that most of the people from their community could not participate in such recruitments since they fall under the MBC category, the petitioners wanted the board to increase age limit for candidate from their community.

