Madras HC directs Centre to protect LGBTQIA+ community until enactment of a law

Court wants NGOs to be roped in to provide legal assistance, monetary support, food and shelter

Empathising with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and such others’ (LGBTQIA+) community, the Madras High Court on Monday directed the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to enlist non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that could provide counselling, monetary support, legal assistance and protection to them until a law could be enacted to protect them. Justice N. Anand Venkatesh ordered that the Ministry upload the details of the NGOs along with their address, contact details and services provided by them on its website within eight weeks and revise the information periodically. Any person who faces an issue because he/she belongs to the LGBTQIA+ community could approach any of the enlisted NGOs for safeguarding their rights, the judge said.