Swapna the first transgender to clear the IAS.

Chennai: The results for the civil services examination that were out yesterday have a fine blend of achievers - men, women and even physically challenged. But the country's top bureaucracy is not yet open for transgenders. One such civil services aspirant from Madurai is taking on the government head on, demanding equity.

When she was 18, Ms Swapna's parents chased her away from home just because she was a transgender. She begged on the streets to pay for her studies to realise her dream to become the first transgender to clear the IAS. But after graduation, a rude shock awaited her. Civil Services had no place for the third gender and she had to apply only as a female candidate.

"The application form offers only two options, male and female. When I received my admit card for the preliminary exam I wasn't comfortable. I'm not a female and how can I be forced to assume that sex. I was also worried, what if a flying squad member drags me out of the hall saying I'm cheating?" she told NDTV.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) that conducts these exams turned down her RTI petition asking her to approach the government. But Swapna has decided to pursue the issue. "Canada and Thailand have recognised transgenders as the third sex. They even train them to participate in the next Olympics. But in India we still let transgenders beg," she said.

Supporting Swapna is Ms Rose Venkatesan, India's first transgender television host who also made colleges admit the third sex in Tamil Nadu a few years ago. "The community is fighting the stigma of flesh trade and begging; ending the discrimination in government jobs will be a great incentive to join mainstream society through education," she said.

Often the government stops with giving ration cards and voter IDs to transgenders. But the community wants something beyond tokenism which would pave way for a dignified life

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Sonaullah Khan

One of the Pakistani prisoners at Kot Bhalwal Jail of Jammu, Sonaullah Khan of Sialkot (64), is in a critical condition at Government Medical College Hospital after being hit by a fellow inmate, Vinod Kumar of Uttarakhand, on Friday morning. Seven militancy-related cases have been registered against Sonaullah, Mr. Kumar said. Serving twin life terms, Sonaullah has been lodged at Kot Bhalwal Jail for the past 14 years. Director-General of Prisons K. Rajendra Kumar told The Hindu that the two prisoners quarrelled over some trivial issue. Superintendent of the State Central Jail at Kot Bhalwal, Rajni Sehgal, added: “Vinod Kumar of Uttarakhand quarrelled and hit Sonaullah at 8.10 am (IST) when the prisoners were setting out for the day’s labour on the jail premises. Sonaullah got critically hit. We have admitted him to GMC Hospital. He is in the ICCU now.” Ms. Sehgal told The Hindu that both, Vinod Kumar and Sonaullah, were serving life terms. Both Mr. Kumar as well as Ms. Sehgal maintained that Sonaullah was a convict in cases related to terror activities. However, neither of them had information available about the organisation he purportedly belonged to. PTI adds that the Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered a probe into the attack and suspended jail superintendent Rajni Sehgal and other staff.

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Sarabjit Singh

Several political leaders including Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal were present during the cremation. Punjab had announced a state funeral and three-day state mourning. The mortal remains of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who died after being brutally assaulted in a Pakistani jail, were on Friday consigned to flames in his village with full state honours amid emotional scenes. A contingent of Punjab Police reversed their arms and then fired shots in the air as a mark of respect to 49-year-old Sarabjit, who died on Thursday in a Lahore hospital. The pyre was lit by Sarabjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur in the presence of his wife Sukhpreet Kaur, daughters Swapandeep and Poonam and son-in-law Sanjay. Dalbir Kaur was assisted by local SAD MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha. A large crowd comprising villagers and VIPs, including Congress Vice president Rahul Gandhi, bid a heartfelt adieu to Sarabjit, whose body was brought here late last night 23 years after he inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan. The final journey of Sarabjit commenced at around 1.15 pm with his coffin, wrapped in the tricolour, being taken to a flower-bedecked hearse van stationed adjacent to a government school ground where the body had been placed for the people to pay their last respects. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Union Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur were among others present. Mr. Badal had announced a state funeral and three-day state mourning besides financial aid to the family and government jobs for his daughters. A Granthi recited prayers at the cremation ground before the pyre was lit. People climbed rooftops of nearby houses to have a last glimpse of Sarabjit. Others present included Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, state Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa, Vice Chairman of National SC Commission Raj Kumar Verka, Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma and leaders representing various parties, including SAD, BJP and Congress. The source news from :-THE HINDU

Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss was arrested on Friday

Former union minister Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss was arrested on Friday by Kancheepuram police in connection with a case filed against him in 2012. According to police, a case under Sections 143, 147 and 188 of IPC has been booked against the PMK leader. It is reported that the arrest was in connection with a speech that Dr. Anbumani made at the Chithirai Muzhunilavu Peruvizha meeting organised by the Vanniyar Sangam in 2012 at Mamallapuram. Dr. Anbumani was picked up from his Chennai residence on Friday morning by a special team and was likely to be produced before the Judicial Magistrate court at Thirukazhukundram. Source News from :-THE HINDU Thank you