ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court on Tuesday said eunuchs could not be deprived of their right to inheritance. A two-member bench SC comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Ghulam Rabbani directed the federal and provincial governments to complete the registration of eunuchs within one month.
Dr Muhammad Aslam Khaki, counsel for eunuchs, told the court that following the SC’s orders, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had started registration of eunuchs and many had been issued computerised national identity cards (CNICs). However, he said medical certificate was demanded of eunuchs before issuing the CNICs.
The chief justice said the court had received a letter from the Interior Ministry, in which it was stated that NADRA had started issuing CNICs to the eunuchs, besides some of them had been provided jobs. However, he said completion of their registration was very essential. Khaki suggested that a force of eunuchs be formed to help recover defaulted loans, saying that it could be very effective.
The chief justice asked him to approach the administration in this regard, as it was not the court’s job. He said parents still kept such children deprived of their right of inheritance. To which the chief justice said no body could be deprived of their right to inheritance due to a physical disability by birth.
During the hearing, representatives of the federal and the provincial governments from the departments of social welfare told the court that registration of eunuchs was in progress and more time was required for its completion.
