KOCHI: The

on Monday asked the state government to decide on the grievance of a

regarding granting reservation for transgenders in the college.

Justice PV Asha issued the directive after considering a petition filed by the manager of

at Pala in Kottayam challenging state government’s orders granting reservation to transgenders and to give them admission to courses.

In the petition filed through advocate

, the college run by Pala diocese of

had questioned orders issued by the government on July 3rd last year and on June 10th this year.

Through last year’s order, the government had directed for reserving seats for transgender students for various courses in universities and affiliated arts and science colleges. The order issued in June this year had directed each college to give admission to transgender students in two seats.

It was contended by the college management that female students alone are entitled to be admitted to a women’s college and the state government failed to take note of the special colleges for women like the petitioner while issuing the orders. If transgender students are admitted, the nature of the college will be changed, Alphonsa College had said in the petition.

Moreover, it is a minority education institution and it has the constitutional right to select students of its own choice, the college had argued.