After a 2-Year Battle, Ganga Kumari to Become Rajasthan’s First Transgender Cop

When 24-year-old Ganga Kumari first applied to join the state police force of Rajasthan in 2015, she could have easily been India’s first transgender police constable. However, fate had other plans for her.

She was denied from taking up the post due to the lack of clarity regarding her gender and the rules of appointment. Nevertheless, this braveheart fought for two long years to claim her right to don the uniform and serve the nation in the state police force and this Monday, 13 November 2017, was a turning point for her.

Ganga is now all set to be Rajasthan State Police Force’s first and India’s third transgender cop.

The Rajasthan High Court directed the state government to appoint Ganga Kumari within six weeks from the date of the order and treat her appointment from 2015 so that she can receive the benefits and seniority.

Ganga goes down the memory lane and recalls how her dreams shattered when her batchmates joined the police force in October last year, but she was denied the chance to be instated solely based on her gender.

The Rajasthan state police had advertised for recruitment of 12,178 constables, back in 2013. Of the 1,25,000 candidates who appeared for the written examination, Ganga who was 22 at the time, cleared the written and physical exam successfully in March 2015.

Unfortunately for her, when the doctor’s medical examination report revealed she was a hermaphrodite (transgender), her file was transferred to the police headquarters in Jaipur, and later to the home department.

When she realised the police officials kept delaying their decision, she knocked the doors of the Rajasthan High court in December 2015.

Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Ganga’s lawyer R S Rathore said, “The court said that the Constitution is gender neutral and no citizen can be discriminated against on the basis of gender. She will be first transgender to be appointed (as constable) in the state police in Rajasthan and third transgender in India.”

Ganga who is currently in her village, Jakhari, was delighted by the victory and said, “I am delighted that my long struggle has finally come to an end, but I will always miss being the first transgender in India to join the police force.”

Read more: 10 Reasons to Cheer for Indian Women Cops – The Brave Ladies Changing the Face of Our Police Force

While Ganga never faced any discrimination based on her gender through school and college in Raniwada town, she lost over two years of service, fighting the battle. Speaking to the publication, she also revealed that she would be claiming the legal expenses from the government for the last two years.

In April 2015, the Supreme Court acknowledged the transgender community as the ‘third gender’ and allowed special reservations for them in educational institutes and jobs for them, considering their social and economic struggle in India.

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