In another issue of gender-based discrimination, India’s state-owned air carrier Air India has declined a job to a transgender person. The airline said that it did not have the policy to hire transgender while citing the reason for job denial.

Shanavi Ponnuswamy, the aggrieved, has resorted to asking for a mercy killing from the President after this event. In a letter to the President, Shanavi informed about the whole episode. Shavani received an offer letter to join Air India as a member of the Cabin crew following which she was denied the job due to her gender. She challenged this in the Supreme Court and the airline and Civil Aviation Ministry was ordered to respond to the accusation within four weeks. However, none of them responded.

Shavani mentioned her inability to earn in absence of job as the reason for demanding mercy killing. “It is clear that Indian government (is) not ready to respond on my survival issue and employment question and I am not in a condition to pay for my daily food expenses. So, it's not at all possible to manage Supreme Court case by paying advocates etc,” the letter said.

Shavani had a history of working with the airline before she underwent a gender change surgery. After which, she has applied four times in two years and even got a call letter but was denied the job.