Two members of the National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP) have resigned in protest following the passage of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Rajya Sabha, saying the law undermines fundamental rights to self-identification and dignity.
Kalki Subramaniam, Southern region representative of the council, and Rituparna Neog, Northeast region representative, submitted their resignations to the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, citing lack of consultation with community representatives and the exclusionary nature of the Bill.
In her resignation letter, Kalki wrote that she “cannot continue to hold a seat at a table where our collective voice has been silenced on a matter of such existential importance.” She said she had engaged in extensive dialogue with transgender and intersex communities across Southern India and the country, and found overwhelming consensus that the Bill is regressive.
Kalki has also announced plans to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court, alongside others, challenging the amendments.
Rituparna Neog expressed similar concerns, stating, “As a statutory representative, my primary mandate is to advise the Government on legislation affecting our lives. The decision to move this Bill forward without any formal consultation undermines the very purpose for which this Council was established.”
The bil removes the guarantee of self-perceived gender identity, narrow the definition of who qualifies as transgender, and introduce layers of medical and administrative scrutiny. Critics say these provisions risk excluding large segments of the community from protections under the law.
The resignations come immediately after the Rajya Sabha passed the Bill, despite opposition calls for wider consultation and a select committee review. Members of the council had reported that they were only invited to discuss the Bill on March 21, after the draft was already in motion in Parliament.
Community representatives and advocates have condemned the amendments, warning that the law’s provisions could erase the recognition of many individuals and create administrative hurdles for transgender people seeking legal protection and social welfare benefits.