Actor and Jaya Bachchan addressed the controversial Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill during a Rajya Sabha debate on Wednesday. She strongly opposed the Bill, which has been tabled by the ruling party, and called for appropriate representation of the transgender community in Parliament.
Jaya Bachchan on Transgender Amendment Bill
The Bill, recently introduced by Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar, has drawn criticism for allegedly narrowing the definition of transgender identity and proposing additional procedural requirements for legal recognition.
Activists and legal experts argue that the proposed legislation marks a departure from the landmark National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India (NALSA) verdict, in which the Supreme Court upheld the right to self-identify one’s gender without mandatory medical intervention.
During her speech, Jaya Bachchan highlighted the cultural and mythological significance of transgender persons in India. She said, “This community, which we are discussing, has been immensely blessed by Ramji. He had said that on every special occasion, the presence of transgender persons would make the event auspicious.”
Emphasising traditional practices, she added, “As per our customs, they visit homes during special occasions such as childbirth to offer blessings, which are considered auspicious.”
Bachchan also strongly advocated for representation of the community in Parliament. She said, “We need representation of this community in both Houses. Make one among them a nominated member. Listen to their difficulties, pain, and struggles before bringing such a Bill to the House.”
More about the bill
On Wednesday, a Supreme Court-appointed advisory committee on transgender rights urged Union Social Justice Minister Virendra Kumar to withdraw the Bill. The legislation has sparked protests nationwide, with activists and members of the transgender community criticising it for relying on vague and unscientific criteria while criminalising their lived experiences. They have also raised concerns that mandatory medical scrutiny could lead to intrusive monitoring and undermine diverse gender identities.
The amendment proposes significant changes to the existing 2019 Act, most notably removing the right to self-identify one’s gender. This right was recognised by the Supreme Court in the landmark National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India (NALSA) verdict, which allowed individuals to declare their gender without medical intervention. The proposed Bill replaces this with a state-regulated certification process, requiring individuals to undergo evaluation by a medical board led by a chief medical officer.
