A committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India has urged the Union government to withdraw the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill 2026, warning that it could significantly dilute hard-won transgender rights. The recommendation was sent to Union Minister Virendra Kumar on the same day the Lok Sabha passed the Bill, intensifying nationwide debate.
The advisory panel, chaired by former judge Justice Asha Menon, noted that several proposed amendments risk rolling back legal protections guaranteed to transgender persons. The committee was formed in October 2025 while hearing a case involving a transgender woman dismissed from teaching jobs due to her gender identity, highlighting gaps in the implementation of the 2019 Act.
A major point of contention in the 2026 Bill is the removal of the right to self-identify one’s gender. Instead, the Bill mandates medical certification by a district-level medical board, a move critics say undermines personal autonomy and contradicts earlier judicial recognition of self-identification.
The Bill has sparked strong opposition both inside and outside Parliament. While several MPs demanded it be referred to a parliamentary standing committee, the request was rejected. Protests have since erupted across cities, with LGBTQIA+ groups arguing that the amendments impose invasive procedures and risk excluding diverse gender identities.
The government maintains that the Bill aims to create a structured and inclusive framework. However, critics argue it weakens existing safeguards and contradicts established constitutional principles, calling for its immediate withdrawal or reconsideration.
