New Delhi, March 22 (NationPress) Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has expressed profound concerns regarding the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, warning that the proposed modifications could undermine essential protections and reverse rights established by the Supreme Court.

In a detailed message on X, Tharoor indicated he is monitoring legislative changes closely even while absent from Parliament due to the ongoing Kerala elections. He voiced his worries about the way the Bill was presented, arguing it was introduced without sufficient consultation from stakeholders.

The Congress MP highlighted that the amendments seem to stray from the rights-based framework set forth by the Supreme Court's landmark 2014 NALSA judgment, which affirmed the right to self-identified gender.

Tharoor pointed out that the intended removal of Section 4(2) from the 2019 Act and its substitution with a medical verification and certification process could jeopardize this principle.

He asserted that such clauses would effectively allow the government to dictate an individual’s gender identity, raising significant concerns about dignity and personal freedom. Furthermore, he criticized the revised definition of “transgender person” in the Bill, suggesting it might exclude various gender-diverse identities previously acknowledged under the law.

Tharoor also raised alarms about provisions requiring reporting of gender-affirming surgeries, which he claimed pose privacy risks and could lead to a government registry of sensitive medical data.

He mentioned that these measures may conflict with the Supreme Court’s 2017 Puttaswamy judgment, which recognized privacy as a fundamental right.

The Congress leader warned that these proposed amendments could force segments of the transgender community back into a state of “legal invisibility,” particularly given their historical marginalization. He emphasized that a Bill with such extensive implications ought to be referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee for thorough examination.

Tharoor questioned the government's rationale that the amendments are designed to ensure welfare reaches “genuine beneficiaries.” He argued that narrowing eligibility criteria could exclude actual beneficiaries and diminish the effectiveness of protections.

He concluded by stating that rather than broadening safeguards in areas like employment, healthcare, and education, the focus appears to be on stricter certification processes. He reiterated the necessity for comprehensive consultation with transgender communities and advocated for policy measures such as horizontal reservations to ensure meaningful inclusion.

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, has garnered significant attention amidst ongoing discussions about the rights, welfare, and legal recognition of gender-diverse communities.