New Delhi: The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 was passed by voice vote in the Lok Sabha on 24 March. The Bill is now listed for discussion and possible voting in the Rajya Sabha today.
The Bill, introduced by the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar, seeks to amend the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. It has drawn strong criticism from opposition lawmakers who argued that it was introduced without adequate consultation with the transgender community and should have been referred to a Standing Committee or Select Committee for detailed scrutiny.
Supriya Sule (NCP-SP) participated in the debate and stated that the Bill was brought in haste at a time when the country is facing serious issues like LPG cylinder shortage and global concerns affecting the economy. She demanded that the Bill be sent to a Select Committee for proper examination of its provisions. She questioned the clause regarding identification of a child as transgender at birth, saying it is technically impossible based on basic science. Sule also criticised the narrow and vague definition of “transgender” in the Bill, warning that it could take away rights granted under the 2019 Act and the Supreme Court’s NALSA judgment. She described the requirement of District Magistrate permission for gender-affirming surgery as a violation of privacy under Article 21 and called the Bill “anti-transgender” rather than “pro-gender”. She highlighted that her party was the first to launch a dedicated Transgender Wing, with Priya Patil as its first president.
R. Sudha (INC) strongly opposed the Bill, calling it “a retreat from constitutional morality, judicial guidance and the hard-fought rights” of the transgender community. She expressed concern over the complete removal of the definition of a transgender person as it existed in the 2019 Act and urged the government to either withdraw the Bill or refer it to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for detailed examination.
Dr. Thamizhachi Thangapandian (DMK, South Chennai) described the Bill as “draconian” and said it rolls back the constitutional promise of dignity, equality and self-identification upheld by the Supreme Court in the NALSA judgment. She argued that instead of providing affirmation, social security, education, healthcare and employment, the Bill introduces intrusive surveillance and bureaucratic control over identity. She called upon the government to withdraw the Bill and engage meaningfully with the community.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed regret that the Bill was not being referred to the Standing Committee. She said the transgender community feels the Bill will obliterate their identity and emphasised that proper consultation with the community was essential before such a significant decision.
The Bill is scheduled for discussion in the Rajya Sabha today, post-lunch. MPs expected to oppose it include:
Renuka Chowdhury (INC), Dr. Fauzia Khan (NCP-SP), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena UBT), Swati Maliwal and several others.
The government has maintained that the amendments are necessary to ensure benefits reach genuine members of the transgender community and to prevent misuse.
Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, former Chairperson of the National Council for Transgender Persons, petitioner in the NALSA case and Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinner Akhada has also pleaded to Prime Minister Modi to not strip their identity, rights and reject the TransBill.
The All India Students' Association (AISA) too has opposed the bill. In a statement the students collective said, " The Trans Bill 2026 passed despite strong resistance from trans communities. It undermines self-identification, revives regressive control, and silences dissent. We demand its rejection and call for real rights: horizontal reservation & state-supported medical-legal aid."
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