Chandigarh, March 31
Nearly a month after Punjab told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that eunuchs would be considered in the category of men, Haryana has taken a similar stand.

The state counsel told the Division Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Jasbir Singh that eunuchs in Haryana too would be categorised among the men.

The development is significant as the two states are among the first in the country to “give eunuchs their due”. So far, a national policy on categorisation of eunuchs has not been formulated. The move by the twin states is expected to go a long way in helping the eunuchs get government jobs and remove the stigma associated with them.

The assertion came on a petition filed by Kajal Mangal Mukhi, a UT resident. Describing herself as eunuch, the petitioner said she was capable of speaking seven languages, knows six types of dances and can easily narrate the names of Presidents and Prime Minister of 100 countries in a minute.

As the petition filed in public interest against Punjab, Haryana and Union of India, came up for hearing this morning, the Haryana counsel also made it clear that there was no bar on eunuchs applying for government jobs.

Pleased with the state government’s decision, the Bench observed with satisfaction that Punjab too has declared its stand on the issue; and it was now for the Union of India to clarify its stand.

As the Bench was told the Union government was yet to take a decision on the issue, the judges expressed hope that the Centre would also take a decision similar to the one by the state governments before the next hearing.

Adjourning the hearing on the PIL to July 14, 2010, the Bench also made the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, as the respondents to the petition.