Renuka Chowdhury’s Sharp Take on the Trans Bill

Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury raised concerns over the provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.<br /><br />The bill is seen as removing the earlier framework of self-identification, which allowed individuals to define their own gender, and introducing a system that requires official verification, including medical and administrative processes.<br /><br />This marks a significant shift from the principles laid down in the 2014 NALSA judgment, where the Supreme Court of India recognised gender identity as a matter of personal choice.<br /><br />Under the proposed changes, individuals may now be required to obtain certification through a medical board and approval from a district magistrate, a move that has sparked debate over privacy, autonomy, and rights.