The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a plea seeking the transfer of all petitions challenging the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, to the top court. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stayed the proceedings before various High Courts and issued notice on the transfer petition.
Hearing and Order
The order came after a brief hearing where Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared on behalf of the Union government. The bench, also comprising Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, directed that no High Court shall proceed with the pending cases until further orders.
Background of the Case
Multiple petitions have been filed in different High Courts challenging the constitutional validity of the Transgender Persons Act. The central government sought the transfer of these cases to the Supreme Court to ensure uniformity in adjudication.
The Act, which came into force in 2020, aims to protect the rights of transgender persons but has faced criticism from activists who argue it undermines their autonomy and fails to address key issues like self-identification.
The next hearing is scheduled after the summer vacation.
