Transgender activist alleges ‘sexual harassment’ at Delhi airport

The activist wrote in the feedback form that while she was using the washroom at Delhi airport, a cleaning staff opened the door as the lock was not working properly. She said in her feedback that “this constitutes sexual harassment”.

A transgender rights activist has complained of ‘sexual harassment’ by Delhi airport administration. The activist had arrived at Delhi airport on December 17 and went to use the washroom. While she was using it, a cleaning staff opened it as the lock of the washroom was not working properly.

The activist had arrived from Hyderabad by Spicejet flight SG 471 at 7:55 am on Sunday. (HT FILE)

In the feedback form, the activist wrote, “I used the disability restroom in Delhi airport Terminal 1C and locked the washroom. The lock doesn’t work. There was no under repair sign. The door opened as I was semi nude. This constitutes sexual harassment by airport administration”.

An email query sent to airport operator, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) remained unanswered.

The activist has been fighting for the rights of transgender people and women.

“The NALSA vs. Union of India judgment of the honorable Supreme Court mandates that transgender people have access to rest rooms of our chosen gender. The Delhi airport staff showed me a very small sticker at the size of my palm or a push or pull sticker stuck on the defunct door. They claimed that the door of the disability washroom was defective for three days and a sticker stuck since. Clearly, neither washrooms for people with disabilities (PwD) nor transgender people are priority for the Delhi airport management,” the activist told Hindustan Times over phone.

“No rest rooms for transgender people, such defective doors of washrooms of people with disabilities and smaller stickers of under repairs for three days actively make the Delhi airport management complicit in perpetrating sexual harassment of historically disenfranchised and marginalized communities,” the activist added.

She said that toilet is not a luxury and is a necessity and if separate toilet for transgenders are not available at the capital’s airport, condition at other airports and public places can be easily imagined.

No police complaint has been filed in this regard.