Supreme Court Awaits Responses on Transgender Rights Amendment Challenge

The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre, states, and Union territories regarding pleas opposing the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant issued notices and will consider the matter further in six weeks, assigning it to a three-judge panel.

The Supreme Court has called for responses from the Centre, all states, and Union territories on Monday in relation to multiple pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, alongside Justice Joymalya Bagchi, agreed to hear the petitions and initiated the issuance of notices. The matter will now be reviewed by a three-judge panel to be established by the CJI, with no interim orders being warranted at this stage.

The matter comes after Parliament passed an amendment bill on March 25, which was approved by the President on March 30. The Act excludes social orientations from its scope, enforcing graded punishments for harm inflicted on transgender individuals.