” Ridiculed for their different sexual identity and orientation, transgenders were on Tuesday granted the status of third gender by the Supreme Court in a landmark ruling that will entitle them to benefits of the Centre and state government welfare schemes.

About 2 million transgenders live in India, where the term hijra is commonly used to describe eunuchs, transgender people, transsexuals, cross-dressers and transvestites. Most of them face discrimination and abuse in the society.

” By recognising them as third gender, this court is not only upholding the rule of law but also advancing justice to the class that has so far been deprived of its legitimate natural and constitutional rights,” it said.”