Kerala: In a first, a transgender becomes maha adalat judge

Ria, who had underwent training to become a legal services volunteer, heard the petitions with other judges in the panel Officials said that it was the first time that a transgender was part of the judging panel of a maha adalat in the state, and possibly in the country

In a first, a transgender was part of the judging panel of the maha adalat at the Legal Services Authority court at Manjeri in Malappuram on Monday.

Ria, who had underwent training to become a legal services volunteer, heard the petitions with other judges in the panel. Maha adalat requires a trained volunteer in the panel along with the judges. 

Legal Services Authority officials said that it was the first time that a transgender was part of the judging panel of a maha adalat in the state, and possibly in the country.

Ria was part of the booth which heard petitions in road accident cases. She had experience of pursuing a lawsuit against an insurance company after she was injured in an accident. 

Rio, who hails from Kozhikode, lives in Perinthalmanna. She works as a fashion designer for companies and events in Coimbatore and Bangalore.