PUCL Slams Transgender Rights Amendment Bill 2026, Calls It Unconstitutional and Demands Immediate Withdrawal

NewsFlash Daily™

19 March

Civil rights body warns proposed changes dilute the 2019 Act, remove self-identification rights and exclude transgender citizens from legal protection

Bengaluru: The People's Union for Civil Liberties has strongly condemned the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, terming it “unconstitutional” and demanding its immediate withdrawal. In an official statement released on March 19, PUCL raised serious concerns over the proposed changes, warning that the bill could significantly weaken protections for transgender individuals in India.

According to PUCL, the amendment seeks to fundamentally alter the scope of the existing Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, particularly by modifying the definition of a transgender person under Section 2(k). The organization argues that the revised definition is reductive in nature and could lead to the exclusion of a large section of transgender citizens from legal recognition and protection.

Right to Self-Identification Under Threat

A key point of contention highlighted by PUCL is the proposed removal of Section 4(2) of the 2019 Act, which explicitly guaranteed the right to self-perceived gender identity.

“The amendment takes away the fundamental right of self-identification, which was central to the 2019 Act and a significant step toward dignity and equality,” the statement said.

PUCL emphasized that this provision was crucial in recognizing the autonomy and identity of transgender persons, and its deletion represents a serious rollback of hard-earned rights.

Concerns Over Legal and Constitutional Validity

The civil liberties body has argued that the amendment effectively changes the core framework of the law, rather than improving or strengthening it. By narrowing definitions and removing key protections, the bill could undermine constitutional guarantees of equality, dignity and non-discrimination.

PUCL further stated that such changes could have far-reaching implications, not only legally but also socially, by marginalizing already vulnerable communities.

Call for Immediate Withdrawal

Reiterating its stance, PUCL has called upon the government to withdraw the amendment bill immediately and engage in broader consultations with stakeholders, including members of the transgender community and rights activists.

The organization has also urged policymakers to ensure that any future amendments strengthen, rather than dilute, existing protections under the law.