Marking the day of social justice - Ambedkar Jayanti (14th April) and the historic day when the Supreme Court delivered the NALSA Judgement (15th April, 2014); over 200 transgender rights and social activists from across Telangana and India wrote a detailed letter to the Chief Minister of Telangana, urging him to immediately pass a Resolution in the State Legislature against the regressive Transgender Amendment Act, 2026, that violates the constitutional rights of lakhs of transgender and gender-diverse persons. The signatories also appealed that Telangana Govt must hold back on operationalizing the amended Act in the state and continue to uphold rights as per the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and SC’s NALSA Judgement (2014).

The letter stated that the 2026 Amendment Act poses a significant threat to the rights and protection of transgender persons and gender-diverse persons, including loss of legal recognition, exclusion from welfare entitlements, denial of healthcare, loss of employment and livelihoods, and withdrawal of protections under criminal law. As the Government of Telangana has consistently reiterated its commitment to social justice and inclusive governance, it has a duty to protect transgender persons in the state from serious harms that the new Act would cause.

Some of the other key signatories to the petition include:

Telangana Transgender Rights Activists: Chandramukhi, Priya Murti, Vasavi, Premleela, Samantha, Laxmikanth, Hellen and many other transgender rights activists.

Feminist & Queer Rights Activists: Rukmini Rao, K. Sajaya, V. Sandhya, A. Suneetha, Kaneez Fatima, Grace Banu, Vihaan Vee, Chayanika Shah, Tejaswini M, Bhanumati, Sunita Lakra, Sagari Ramdas, Vibhuti Patel, Ritash, Nandini Rao, Abha Bhaiya, Smriti.

Social, Environmental, Farmers Rights Activists: Varghese Theckanath, Kiran Vissa, Ravi Kanneganti, Nikita Naidu, P. Shankar, John Micheal, Prasad Chacko.

Lawyers & Law Students: Adv Mrinalini, Adv Shraddha H, Adv Afsar Jahan, Adv Mandakini, Adv Prakhya, Adv Raja Chandra, Auronisha Roy, Ananya.

Academics: Prof. Sowmya Dechamma, Dr. J. Devika, Prof. Durga Bhavani, Prof. (Retd) Susie Tharu, Dr. Gabriele Dietrich.

The signatories condemned the haste with which the Union Govt passed the Central Act, within two weeks, despite resistance by many opposition MPs, transgender persons across the country and even members of the National Council for Transgender Persons, two of who resigned in protest. The Union Govt did not even heed to the advice of the Supreme Court appointed Advisory Committee (in Jane Kaushik vs. UoI) to not pass the Bill and refer it to a departmental Standing Committee and hold wide ranging consultations with transgender communities.

The 2026 Amendment Act replaces the right to self-perceived gender identity, which was recognized as a fundamental right under Article 21 by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in NALSA v. Union of India (2014) 5 SCC 438, with a regime of medical certification and administrative verification. This legislation has a multitude of built-in retrospective references that cause enormous anxiety and uncertainty over the fate of the 32,000 transgender certificates issued under the 2019 Act. The Amendment Act violates fundamental rights under Articles 14, 15, 19, and 21.

The letter highlighted how the State Governments were not consulted despite the Amendments covering many state and concurrent list entries, thus violating the principles of federalism and co-operative governance. The letter said that the State Assembly has passed multiple Resolutions in the past against Central laws, including the recent resolution against VBGRAMG Act and hence the CM must earnestly ensure a Resolution against the Transgender Amendment Act, 2026 is also passed at the earliest.

The signatories also strongly urged the State Government to refrain from operationalizing the Amendment Act within Telangana, as Rules have not yet been notified by the Central Government. More importantly, the constitutionality of the Amendment Act is being challenged before multiple higher courts, including the Supreme Court, as well as Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala and other High Courts. Thus, the Amendment Act should not be implemented by the state government, until the constitutional questions before the courts are authoritatively determined.

The CM was also requested to instruct officials to continue issuing all pending applications for IDs under the 2019 Act. In Telangana, out of 2824 applicants for transgender certificate and ID card, 2013 cards were issued and 811 are pending. The state government can also provide fresh state-level IDs as happening in many other states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

It was also urged that the state government must continue all health-related services, livelihoods and jobs should be secured and increased (not discontinued) and welfare programs must be extended to all transgender persons. The CM was implored to declare an inclusive and comprehensive Transgender Policy in line with the NALSA Judgement and Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019; process for which already began in 2025 and needs to be taken forward.

Notably, many of these concerns were also conveyed to Ms. Meenakshi Natarajan (AICC Telangana In charge) in-person on 14th April and she assured to take up the same with the CM.

The signatories hope the Govt of Telangana would take a firm public, legislative and administrative position against the Amendment Act of 2026 and uphold the rights, dignity, privacy and welfare of transgender and gender diverse persons across Telangana.