Consulted a delegation on Transgender Persons Amendment Bill, says govt

New Delhi: The Centre had consulted one delegation of transgender persons before framing the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, which has changed the definition of transgenders and taken away the right to self-perceived gender identity.

The consultation process followed by the government has been revealed by the ministry of social justice and empowerment in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question posed by DMK MP Thiru DM Kathir Anand.

The reply is significant as the ministry's own National Council for Transgender Persons members resigned saying they had been kept in the dark about the amendment Bill. The transgender community has openly complained about not being consulted in framing the Bill. The Pre Legislative Consultation Policy 2014 of the government lays down that a legislation should be put in public domain for stakeholder consultation before it is finalised and considered by the Cabinet.


The policy says, "Where such legislation affects specific group of people, it may be documented and disclosed through print or electronic media or in such other manner, as may be considered necessary to give wider publicity to reach the affected people."

The Act has been challenged on various grounds and petitions are pending before the Supreme Court and high courts of Karnataka, Delhi and Kerala. The Supreme Court had sought replies from all states and union territories by next week.