Contempt to respect for India’s first transgender judge
KOLKATA:A dip in income has been more than compensated by a rise in respect — that’s the three months’ balance sheet of the life of Joyita Mahi Mondal as India’s first transgender judge.
On July 8, the 29-year-old attended office for the first time as a Lok Adalat judge in Islampur of North Dinajpur district in West Bengal. That day, Mondal, until then a hijra who went around collecting money from families with newborns, simply became history.
“I am really happy as now I get respect from society that I was looking for,” Mondal told HT. “In the court, those who come to seek justice now call me sir, or madam.”
Earlier, there was nothing but contempt. “People almost treated me as an untouchable, and even passed abusive remarks. But now they come requesting me to mediate in their family disputes.”
So far Mondal has disposed of four cases related to settlement of bank loan defaults and tenant-landlord disputes.
“Usually, Lok Adalats have three-judge benches. My fellow judges have always been cooperative and treat me with respect,” she added.
But the awkward and searching glances have not vanished completely. “Sometimes I can feel negative vibes from those whose cases I adjudicate — strange gaze or body language. But I must add that none of them has insulted me. At times, a few are just surprised to see a transgender on the chair of judge,” she said.
However, she has no complaints. “The society needs more time to change and we have to give it that time.”
Despite the rise in prestige, Mondal has to endure financial difficulties. When she went around neighbourhoods for money from families with newborns, Mondal had a steady flow of income.
But now she has to depend on the meagre allowance that she gets for every session of Lok Adalat. But the graduate with honours in history from Netaji Nagar College in Kolkata in 2010 is happy to let go of it for the prestige she has got.
Mondal was also associated with transgender rights activism..