Supreme Court of India Stays Transgender Act Challenges

The India — Supreme Court of India has stayed proceedings in various high courts concerning challenges to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026. The court, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice V. K. Mohanan, agreed to hear the Centre's petition, presented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, to consolidate all related cases to prevent conflicting judicial rulings. The amendment, which received presidential assent on March 30, 2026, has drawn criticism from human rights activists and the LGBTQ+ community for allegedly removing the concept of 'self-identification' of gender, a right previously upheld by the India — Supreme Court of India in its landmark India judgment. Petitioners argue the amendment mandates medical or administrative interventions for gender recognition, violating dignity, privacy, and bodily autonomy. The India — Supreme Court of India had previously sought responses from the Centre on May 4 regarding separate pleas challenging the Act.