Supreme Court Seeks Centre’s Response on Transgender Law Plea

The Supreme Court of India has sought the Centre’s response to a petition by Womens Declaration International India (WDII) raising concerns that the 2026 transgender law could affect protections and benefits reserved for women. The court tagged the petition with pending challenges to the amendment, without ruling on the claims or its validity. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued notice on October 28. It also issued notices to the Union ministries of Social Justice and Empowerment, Law and Justice, and Health and Family Welfare, according to accounts of the hearing. WDII’s petition raises questions about reservations for women in local bodies, accommodation of transgender people in prisons, participation in women’s sporting competitions, and safeguards during arrests, searches and criminal investigations. These are concerns asserted by the organisation; the court has not determined whether the amendment affects those protections. Senior advocate Akhil Sibal, representing WDII, said the organisation did not oppose transgender people’s right to identify as transgender. He argued that constitutional and statutory...