Members National Council on Transgender Persons (NCTP) said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) that the council had not been consulted or informed about the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill 2026, which was tabled in Parliament on Friday (March 13).
They said they are in the process of issuing a joint statement to register their objections to the bill, which seeks to amend the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
Some of these members have already started holding meetings and are trying to find a meeting with the Social Justice Minister to explain why the transgender community is against the bill.
The bill, introduced by Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar, proposed to strip transgender people of their right to a self-perceived gender identity and redefine who a “transgender person” is. The proposed amendments also give discretionary power to the district magistrate and mandate health facilities performing gender reassignment surgeries or procedures to report to the government.
The amendments sparked protests and mobilization among transgender communities across the country, with many calling for their withdrawal.
On Tuesday, the National Human Rights Commission’s Special Transgender Rights Monitor, Gopi Shankar Madurai, issued a statement in which he “rejected” the bill, calling it “deeply flawed, unscientific and culturally regressive legislation that perpetuates discrimination rather than protecting the rights and dignity of children of the various communities of GIESC (Gender Identity/Non-Expression and Gender Characteristics of Persons and Sexes) of India”.
Kalki Subramaniam, a nominated NCTP member representing the transgender community in the southern region, said the council had not been informed of any planned changes to the law. Another nominated member representing the North East region, Rituparna Neog, told The Hindu: “We have not been informed at all. Isn’t that what the council is for?”
The NCTP was established under the 2019 Act with the main purpose of advising the Union Government on matters of policy making, programmes, legislation or projects with respect to transgender persons. It is headed by the Minister of Social Justice and the Minister of State for Social Justice. Five representatives of the transgender community from different regions and professional members representing non-governmental organizations working for transgender people are compulsorily nominated to the Council. It also has representation from other ministries, state governments, NHRC and the National Commission for Women.
Abhina Aher, one of the expert members of the council, said the amendments were introduced suddenly “although we are working with the government almost on a daily basis”. However, she mentioned that the Delhi government recently held a consultation meeting to identify transgender people who have historically been associated with occupations such as begging.
“There has been a serious debate about who the real transgender person is, of course in relation to the people who are often seen begging on the street. And one might argue that there might be some cisgender or cross-dressing people on the street. One might argue that the government thinks they are trying to provide benefits to people who really need them. But that kind of thinking that would permeate the amendment is the subject of Aher, Chief Bill, objection.” TWEET Foundation, a transgender social organization.
Ms. Subramaniam said that meetings between the nominated representatives and the nominated expert members are already underway. “We are also trying to organize a meeting with the government and convey the objections that transgender communities across India have regarding this bill,” she said.
Ms. Neog added that NCTP members are also preparing public statements.
On Sunday, Ms Subramaniam wrote to the social justice minister that the NCTP had not been informed or consulted about the amendments, adding: “If the amendment becomes law in its current form, I will resign as a member of the National Council for Transgender Persons.”
“I cannot continue to serve on a body that is aloof in such critical decisions and that supports legislation that harms the very community it is supposed to protect,” she said in the letter, calling on the minister to reconsider the amendment to the law.
Meanwhile, NHRC Special Observer Madurai said, “By protecting the colonial hijra structures at the expense of India’s true ancient heritage, conflating distinct biological and social categories and rejecting evidence-based reforms, this Act guarantees continued violations of rights and omission discrimination, which the Supreme Court has repeatedly condemned.”
Published – 17 March 2026 17:41 IST
