Supreme Court Halts High Court Proceedings on Challenges to Amended Trans Rights Law

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed proceedings before several High Courts that are hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026. The interim order came in response to the Union government’s request seeking the transfer of all related cases to the apex court to ensure uniformity in judicial decisions.

The Centre argued that multiple petitions filed across different High Courts could lead to conflicting rulings on the same legislation. Accepting the need to examine the matter, a bench of the Supreme Court issued notices on the transfer petitions and directed that ongoing proceedings before the concerned High Courts remain suspended until further orders.

Petitions contesting the amended law are currently pending before the High Courts of Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala and Delhi. The Supreme Court indicated that it would subsequently decide whether all cases should be heard directly by the apex court or assigned to a single High Court for adjudication.

The amendment, passed by Parliament earlier this year, has drawn criticism from transgender rights activists and advocacy groups. Petitioners have contended that certain provisions of the revised law undermine the principle of self-identification of gender, which had been recognised by the Supreme Court in its landmark 2014 NALSA judgment.

Critics of the legislation have also raised concerns over provisions that allegedly require medical assessment and certification for legal gender recognition. According to them, such requirements could infringe upon the dignity, autonomy and fundamental rights of transgender persons guaranteed under the Constitution. The final verdict in the matter is likely to shape the future interpretation and implementation of laws concerning gender identity and equality before the law.