XLRI-XAT 2016: Transgender cry foul; couldnt register as no column in application form, despite SC ruling

Crying foul as no mention of transgender in the gender column appeared in XLRI-XAT 2016 registration form, transgender remained unable to register for XAT 2016 going to be held on January 3, 2016 across the country in 47 cities. With the anomaly continued, registration for XLRI- XAT 2016 closed on December 10, 2015.

In response to the query from MBAUniverse.com whether transgender is allowed to register for XAT 2016 since the registration page has only 2 genders Male and female, the third one is not mentioned there, Prof Munish Thakur, convener XAT 2016 and faculty XLRI, Jamshedpur said Transgenders are allowed but we have not asked any information related to that. However, till the last minute before the registration process for XAT 2016 was closed, it was not made clear on which of the 2 genders - Male and female, the transgender had to click upon to declare the gender.

While the registration and application forms for CAT 2015, CMAT 2016 and many important B-schools like FMS Delhi and all the IIMs have categorically offered choices mentioning Transgender along with Male and female in the gender specific column to choose the relevant one, XLRI-XAT 2016 forgot to incorporate the third gender in the registration form.

Honble Supreme Court of India in their ruling on April 15, 2014 recognised the transgender community as a third gender along with male and female. The division bench of Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and A.K. Sikri in their concurrent historical judgement dated April 15, 2014 on Writ Petition (Civil) No. 400 of 2012 secured the right to equality and equal protection for transgender persons under Articles 14, 15 and 16 by prohibiting discrimination on the ground of gender identity. Giving the ruling on a petition filed by the National Legal Services Authority Honble Supreme Court said directed the Centre and States to take steps to treat them as socially and educationally backward classes and extend reservation for admission in educational institutions and for public appointments.

The Bench concurrently ruled Transgenders are also citizens of India. The spirit of the Constitution is to provide equal opportunity to every citizen to grow and attain their potential, irrespective of caste, religion or gender. It has therefore been mandatory that a Transgender has legal right to write the gender as Transgender in all identity documents, including a birth certificate, passport, ration card, driving licence and admission and application form in educational institutions.

There were 80 candidates from Transgender gender category who applied for CAT 2015. Many B-schools in their admission and registration form have mentioned either Transgender or others alongwith Male and Female genders. Since registration for XAT 2016 stands closed, it may not be possible for XLRI to make amendments in the XAT 2016 registration form now and incorporate the Transgender under gender specific column in the registration form.

There could have been a good number of transgender applying to XLRI-XAT 2016 as it has happened in CAT 2015 and CMAT 2016. Besides the transgender candidates would also feel that equal opportunity in higher education is offered to them not only by Government controlled but also by Private PGDM B-schools as well.