The Supreme Court on Monday stayed proceedings before various High Courts on petitions challenging the Transgender Persons (Amendment) Act, 2026. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant issued the order after briefly hearing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represented the Union government.
Court's Directive
The bench, also comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, issued notice on the transfer petition filed by the Centre seeking to move all pending cases to the Supreme Court. The court directed that no further proceedings be conducted in any High Court regarding the validity of the amendment act until further orders.
Solicitor General's Submission
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that multiple petitions challenging the same law in different High Courts could lead to conflicting judgments. He urged the apex court to consolidate all matters for a uniform hearing. The bench agreed to examine the plea and listed the matter for further hearing after four weeks.
The Transgender Persons (Amendment) Act, 2026, was enacted by Parliament earlier this year, introducing changes to the previous 2019 law. Petitioners have challenged certain provisions, claiming they dilute protections for transgender individuals. The Centre has defended the law, stating it aims to streamline recognition processes and address administrative concerns.
This stay will remain in effect until the Supreme Court decides on the transfer petition. Legal experts say the move is likely to expedite the final resolution of the legal challenges.
