Indian Navy Says No Place For Trans Sailor Sabi Giri In Its Ranks
It was in 2016 that Sabi Giri decided to start her transition to the gender that she had always self-identified with. A year later, the Indian Navy terminated her tenure, seven years after she had first started serving as a sailor.
Sabi was 18, and known as Manish, when she joined the Navy. At 25, she was told that she had “violated service rules by joining the force as a man and then becoming a woman” and dismissed. Sabi fought against the dismissal and moved the Delhi High Court to challenge Section 9 of the Navy Act, 1957, which states that only male candidates can be admitted to her role as a sailor. The court ruled in Sabi’s favour and her former employers stated in court that she will be provided employment in a different position.
On Thursday, the Navy reportedly told Saba Giri that she is not eligible for any post in the force.
The Indian Navy Vs Sabi Giri ::
Despite agreeing to let her appear for an exam for a ‘tradesman mate’ position before the court in August, the Navy has now said she is not eligible for any post as she has only passed class XII and is above 25 years of age, Sabi’s lawyer Amritananda Chakravorty told The Print. She is now 27.
Anil Soni, the standing counsel for the Government of India, told the portal: “The Navy had earlier, on compassionate grounds, agreed to allow her to take the tradesman mate exam. But a review by the officials found that she is disqualified for any Navy job for reasons including her termination, which has made her ineligible even in ex-serviceman category.”
Why is the military still a male bastion?
India’s defence forces till recently did not have space even for women. This year has seen the cause take many leaps and bounds. From a new rule which allowed women officers to be granted Permanent Commission in the Indian Army in all the 10 branches where women were earlier inducted for Short Service Commission, to the decision to post women officers as defence attaches in India’s overseas missions, 2019 has brought good news about inclusion.
The Navy allows women officers but not as sailors, and there is no provision for transgender folk. Sabi Giri fought hard to challenge that status quo, we hope her struggle will not be in vain.
