State human rights body issues summons to Bombay Gymkhana

The Maharash-tra State Human Rights Commission on Wednesday issued summons to the Bombay Gymkhana, seeking its response on allegations that its management had asked transgender activist Laxmi Tripathi to leave the club premises last week.

The Maharash-tra State Human Rights Commission on Wednesday issued summons to the Bombay Gymkhana, seeking its response on allegations that its management had asked transgender activist Laxmi Tripathi (31) to leave the club premises last week.

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On April 2, Laxmi had been invited as a guest to a pre-event dinner of the TedX conference at the Bombay Gymkhana.

But the club’s management told the host, Ajay Hattangadi, that his membership will be cancelled if Laxmi didn’t leave the premises. All guests staged a walkout in support of her.

The state human rights body took suo moto cognisance of the issue and issued summons to the club, observing that it seemed there was discrimination against Laxmi.

The gymkhana will have to explain on what grounds Laxmi was asked to leave the party within a month.

Laxmi on Wednesday also submitted an application to the state human rights commission detailing the “stigma and discrimination” she faced at the Bombay Gymkhana.

“I gave the application to the chairperson of the state human rights commission and a similar application to the assistant commissioner of police of the Azad Maidan police jurisdiction. Since it was a human rights violation and there are other legalities to be looked into, I’ll also file a civil suit against the Bombay Gymkhana in the high court,” said the 31-year-old Thane resident.