Shashi Tharoor warns bill erodes transgender rights

Congress just dropped a sneaky rewrite that could strip trans folks of hard-won rights.

Transgender Persons Amendment Bill 2026

• Shashi Tharoor slams the rushed introduction.
• Bill skips proper community input.
• Medical checks replace self-identification.
• The state gains power over gender status.

Self-ID Principle Erosion

• NALSA ruling gets quietly sidelined.
• Section 4(2) deletion kills autonomy.
• The certification process invades dignity.
• Liberty takes a direct hit.

Privacy Risks Spike

• Surgery reporting becomes mandatory.
• The government builds a sensitive data list.
• Puttaswamy privacy ruling clashes hard.
• Personal medical details get exposed.

Narrowed Identity Scope

• The transgender definition shrinks sharply.
• Diverse identities face exclusion risk.
• Legal recognition shrinks for many.
• Marginalised groups slide backward.

Welfare Access Tightens

• Eligibility rules get stricter now.
• Genuine people might lose benefits.
• Focus shifts to gatekeeping instead.
• Standing Committee review demanded.