Top cop in Bihar’s Siwan removed amid row over use of AK-47 during student protest
SP Puran Kumar Jha, under whose command an AK-47 rifle was allegedly used during a student protest in Siwan on July 25, has been placed on the waiting list for a new posting. The Bihar government on Tuesday transferred the Superintendents of Police (SPs) of Siwan and Bhojpur districts, where police action against student protesters had triggered controversies. While Siwan SP Puran Kumar Jha has been kept at police headquarters waiting for posting, Bhojpur SP Raj has been posted as SP of neighbouring Rohtas district. Jha courted controversy after police allegedly opened fire with an AK-47 during a students’ protest in Siwan on July 25, while Raj faced sharp criticism following the alleged killing of 28-year-old Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in a fake encounter. The Siwan SP’s removal from the post came hours after the state government told the Supreme Court that constable Abhishek Kumar, who allegedly opened fire with an AK-47, has already been put under suspension. The state government told the apex court that the constable fired four rounds from his AK-47 only after he felt trapped and surrounded by protestors, and the shots were fired in the air. The state maintained that nobody was injured in the police firing. Bihar government’s response was filed before the Supreme Court in proceedings arising from petitions alleging police excesses during protests over exam paper leak. The protests were held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi by supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party-led movement. Meanwhile, Raj, who was posted as SP of Bhojpur, has been transferred to Rohtas in the same capacity. Raj faced public backlash over the alleged killing of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in a fake police encounter. Tiwari was shot five times even after he had surrendered before police. Jha and Raj are among 18 IPS officers transferred by the Samrat Choudhary government. According to a notification issued by the state home department, Hridaya Kant has been made SP of Nalanda, the home district of former chief minister Nitish Kumar. Similarly, Vinit Kumar, Saran SP, will be replaced by Roushan Kumar, who was the SP of Rohtas. Roushan has been made SSP of Saran district, while Vinit has been posted as SP, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Bharat Soni has been made the new SP of Siwan. Awadhesh Dixit will take charge as SP of Bhojpur. Manish Kumar, SP, Special Branch, has been shifted to Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) in the same capacity. Senior officials, however, claimed that it was a routine transfer to improve law and order situation in the state. Ramashankar Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Right way’: Rahul Gandhi lauds ‘understanding’ between Jharkhand govt, protesting students
Rahul Gandhi also vowed to change the system across the country to establish a framework that propels students forward rather than holds them back. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday praised the “understanding” reached between protesting students and the Jharkhand government, calling it the “right way” as Chief Minister Hemant Soren chose dialogue while the students exercised restraint and got their demands accepted. Gandhi also vowed to change the system across the country to establish a framework that propels students forward rather than holds them back. “An understanding has been reached between the students of Jharkhand and the state government, and the students have ended their hunger strike – it was heartening to hear this news,” Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. “Chief Minister Hemant Soren ji and the Jharkhand government chose the path of dialogue and arrived at a solution. The students exercised restraint and made their demands accepted,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. This is the right way – when students raise questions, they should get answers, he said. “We stand with every student in the country. And we will uproot and transform this recovery system, so that every student gets the full reward of their hard work and the right to fair competition,” Gandhi said. This system will change across the country, and a framework will be established that propels students forward, rather than holding them back, the former Congress chief said. Gandhi had written to Soren, urging him to personally meet representatives of the protesting students and take appropriate action to resolve the issue. He had said the students’ protest was peaceful and their demands legitimate, while asserting that the youth of India was its future and that “we owe them our solidarity and support at this moment of crisis”. The Congress is part of the ruling JMM-led government in Jharkhand. Students protesting against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations may take a call on withdrawing their demonstration on Tuesday after the state government cancelled all recruitment tests, including the JSSC-CGL exam, conducted by an outsourced agency since 2014. The announcement came after Soren chaired a marathon Cabinet meeting at the state secretariat on Monday. He also said an exam reforms committee headed by senior IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal would recommend measures to strengthen the recruitment examination process. “The government has decided to cancel the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) exam, which was one of the major demands of the protesting students. We have also decided to cancel all tests conducted by outsourced agency TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL) and the results published by it,” Soren had told reporters after the meeting. Student leader Devendra Mahto, who had been on hunger strike for 16 days over the alleged exam irregularities, ended his fast around midnight on Monday. Two protesters, Prem Nayak and Umme Habiba, also called off their hunger strike, while three others – Rahul Kranti, Sabita Kumari and Rupesh Pal – continued their fast. Students were seen celebrating and waving the Tricolour after the announcement. Activist Sonam Wangchuk congratulated Mahto over a video call, describing the government’s decision as a “victory for everyone”. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Sang same ‘Vande Mataram’ as national leaders: Kharge hits back at BJP over ‘incomplete’ charge
Kharge said if singing the version he did was a crime, cases should also be filed against the leaders who had sung it the same way. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday responded to the BJP’s criticism over his rendition of an “incomplete” ‘Vande Mataram’, saying he sang the version followed by national leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Talking to reporters in South Goa, Kharge said if singing the version he did was a crime, cases should also be filed against the leaders who had sung it the same way. The ruling BJP has alleged that the Congress chief sang an “incomplete” version of the national song during his public meeting in South Goa on Monday, and accused the grand old party of disrespecting the national song. Speaking over the controversy, Kharge said, “I sang the ‘Vande Mataram’ which Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru sang…the same song which Vallabhbhai Patel and Atal Bihari Vajpayee sang. If that is the crime, then file a case against Gandhiji, Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel.” Kharge said the BJP was unaware of the historical decisions taken by the Congress on the national song and the national anthem. “They don’t know that before they were born, the Congress had passed the resolution to decide about the national song and the national anthem,” he said. The Congress president said he had followed the version of ‘Vande Mataram’ that had been sung for decades. “I did what has been happening for the last 80 years,” Kharge said. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Sonia Gandhi memoir ‘Belonging’ to chronicle love, loss and six decades in public life to be out on November 10
The memoir traces her journey from post-war Italy to the centre of Indian politics and the Nehru-Gandhi family. NEW DELHI: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s long-awaited memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, will be published on November 10, publisher Alfred A. Knopf announced on Tuesday, offering a candid account of her journey from post-war Italy to the heart of Indian politics. At 19, while studying in Cambridge, England, Sonia met Rajiv Gandhi in 1965. Her life subsequently unfolded within the Nehru-Gandhi family, first largely away from politics and later at its centre. The memoir traces her transition from a private family life to public duty, shaped, she says, by grief and loss. “It was heartbreak and loss that threw me into the public world of politics. Up till then I had guarded my privacy fiercely,” Gandhi said in a statement issued through Knopf. The narrative is set against some of the most turbulent chapters in India’s post-Independence history. It recounts the death of Rajiv’s younger brother Sanjay Gandhi in a 1980 plane crash, Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her bodyguards in 1984 and Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination by an LTTE suicide bomber during an election campaign in Tamil Nadu in 1991. According to the publisher, the memoir also offers a portrait of Sonia Gandhi’s early years in India, learning Hindi, adapting to Indian customs and cuisine, and raising her children with Rajiv while living in the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi. Sonia Gandhi says the book seeks to move beyond the political mythology surrounding one of India’s most powerful families. “Much has been written about my family, but few narratives were able to reach into the truth of their motivations, their actions and even their very human failings,” she said. “In many ways, this book is a homage to their humanness.” Her own political career, which she initially resisted, eventually made her the longest-serving president of the Congress. The decisive chapter came after the 2004 general election, when Congress emerged as the largest party and formed the United Progressive Alliance. Gandhi led the alliance but declined the prime minister’s post, with Manmohan Singh becoming prime minister. The UPA subsequently governed India for a decade. Gandhi said writing the memoir required confronting experiences she had long kept private. “Writing about my life did not come easily to me. It meant opening myself up, sharing moments and experiences I had always held deep inside,” she said. The memoir, she added, ultimately revealed a connecting thread of “love and loyalty” running from her childhood in Italy to her decades in India. “My story also offers readers a unique perspective of the social and political changes I have witnessed for six decades in the beautiful country of my belonging,” Sonia Gandhi said. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Parliament passes Transgender Persons Amendment Bill, 2026 with Rajya Sabha approving it today
Parliament has passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Rajya Sabha approving it today. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha yesterday by a voice vote amid an Opposition-led walkout. The bill seeks to redefine the category of transgender, removes the provision of self-perceived gender identity and excludes several socio-cultural identities as well as transmasculine individuals from its ambit. It also further defines transgender persons within a biological framework, based on intersex variations and differences in sexual development. Replying to the discussion on the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar said the government is compassionate towards the well-being of the transgender community. He said the Bill has provisions to empower the transgenders and give them dignity. The Minister said that the NDA government has taken several initiatives to bring transgender people to the mainstream and stop discrimination against them. Starting the discussion in the Upper House, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said this bill dilutes the privacy of an individual provided under the Constitution. Opposing the Bill, Ms Chowdhury said self-identification cannot be taken away through bureaucratic certification. Criticizing the government, she said that the proposed bill undermines the fundamental rights and dignity of transgender persons. Calling such a move wrong and illegal, she argued that forcing transgender persons to provide their identity through official certificates is against the spirit of equality and dignity guaranteed by the constitution. She also questioned the government’s approach for not properly consulting with the transgender community before bringing the Bill. She also referred to the Supreme Court’s landmark NALSA judgement of 2014, which recognized the right of transgender persons to self-identify their gender. Ms Chowdhury said the proposed Bill violates the principles laid down in that judgement and fails to respect an already established legal framework. DMK MP Tiruchi Shiva also opposed the Bill, saying that even if the Bill is passed in Parliament with a majority, it will be struck down by the Supreme Court. He further added that the Bill violates Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution and it deprives the community of the right to freedom, dignity and self-determination. Supporting the Bill, BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni said, ” This Bill ensures justice, dignity, protection from criminalisation and legal safeguards for transgender persons. She also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing this bill with certain amendments in order to ensure that the benefits reach the deserving people in a proper manner. She said there is a need for a law that brings justice to real transgender individuals and punishes fake ones. Mrs Kulkarni said the benefits should be extended to those who are transgender by birth. She said that the amendment to extend punishment will bring down the rate of crime and forced identities. TMC’s Saket Gokhale said that 31% of Transgender people in India have attempted suicide because of the discrimination that they are facing. He alleged that now the government is going to start discriminating against them as though social discrimination were not enough. He called it unacceptable. Mr Gokhale expressed concern that gender is going to be decided by the Chief Medical Officer and a District Magistrate, and the bill does not prescribe any qualifications for the Chief Medical Officer. Sanjay Singh of AAP said the Bill is a big let-down for the transgender community. He accused the government of not doing anything for the community. RJD’s Manoj Kr Jha said that prejudices against transgender people should stop, and they should be able to live with dignity. He added that self-determination of gender should not be taken away. CPI(M)’s John Brittas said it is a black-letter day and the Bill is taking India a century back. He pleaded with the government to either withdraw the Bill or refer it to a Select Committee. Jaya Bachchan of the Samajwadi Party also questioned the government over the legislation. She sought to know what the urgency was in bringing the Bill, without examining it with the depth and care that it deserved. Courtesy : NOA Note: This news is originally published on https:/newsonair.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
AAP leader arrested for allegedly encroaching Dalit colleague’s property
New Delhi, Aug 17: Aam Aadmi Party’s National Council Member Sri Chand Vohra was arrested by Delhi Police from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, for alleged encroachment of the property of his party’s Dalit worker in south-east Delhi’s Jaitpur Extension, sources said on Monday. Sri Chand Vohra is the husband of AAP Councillor from Jaitpur, Hema Vohra. He has been named in a police complaint filed by AAP Dalit worker Rakesh Kumar over his alleged dispossession from his own property. A police complaint filed by Rakesh Kumar said that around three weeks ago, Vohra allegedly threw his belongings, kept on the first floor of the property, onto the street. Following an investigation, the police added penal sections relating to an alleged conspiracy to take possession of the plot. The penal provisions invoked in the case carry a maximum punishment of 10 years. Earlier, Delhi BJP questioned the silence of AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Saurabh Bharadwaj over the alleged harassment of their own party’s Dalit worker. Delhi BJP Media Head and Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor condemned Vohra’s alleged injustice against Rakesh Kumar and demanded early police action against him. Kapoor, along with BJP Chief Spokesperson Anil Gupta, asked Kejriwal to immediately ensure justice for the Dalit AAP worker by restoring possession of his plot and expelling Vohra and his wife from the party. The Delhi BJP Media Head said that Vohra has been directly associated with Kejriwal since the party’s formative days and had himself contested the Municipal Corporation election from Jaitpur in 2017. In 2022, his wife Hema contested the election and is currently serving as a Municipal Councillor. In 2019, on the pretext of setting up a private political office, Vohra took a vacant plot belonging to active Dalit AAP worker Rakesh Kumar in Jaitpur Extension. After about a year, Rakesh Kumar began asking for his plot back, but Vohra allegedly kept delaying the matter till 2022. Towards the end of 2022, Vohra’s wife Hema was elected as a Municipal Councillor from Jaitpur. According to the BJP leaders, this was followed by alleged harassment of Dalit worker Rakesh Kumar, which ended only after an FIR was registered at a police station around two weeks ago. Courtesy : TAT Note: This news is originally published on https:/theassamtribune.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
“Mallikarjun Kharge’s insult is a direct attack on the existence of Dalits,” Telangana Congress holds protest with appeal for unity against BJP
The alleged insult of Congress President in Haldwani has sparked widespread outrage in Telangana. The TPCC issued a stern warning to the BJP-RSS and appealed to Dalits to unite. New Delhi: The alleged insult to Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge has sparked widespread outrage within the Telangana Congress. On Monday, August 17, members of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) held a massive protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Congress leaders have made a clear call that the time has come for Dalits across the country to unite against the BJP’s policies. The protest was organized to protest the alleged “purification” of the stage after Kharge’s event in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. South Asians and Diaspora The main event of this strong protest was held in Karimnagar. Dr. Kavampally Satyanarayana, the party’s Scheduled Caste (SC) Cell Chairman and MLA, attended the protest. He described the humiliation of Kharge as highly condemnable and appealed to the marginalized sections of society to unite. The controversy began on August 13th. Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress chief, alleged that some individuals associated with the BJP had desecrated the stage immediately after his speech at the Ramlila Maidan in Uttarakhand. Expressing deep regret over this act, Kharge said that coming from a Dalit background, the incident had made him acutely aware of the “sting of untouchability.” Addressing the protesters at the protest, MLA Satyanarayana sharply attacked the ruling party. He said that this humiliation of Mallikarjun Kharge was not just an attack on one person, but on the self-respect and existence of the entire Dalit community. It should not be taken lightly at any cost. He urged all Dalits to stand firmly against the BJP’s discriminatory and oppressive policies. People and Society The TPCC directly blamed the BJP, which is in power at the center, for this purification ritual. Congress leaders said the ruling party should bow its head and take accountability to prevent such discrimination in the future. Satyanarayana issued a stern warning to the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the Sangh Parivar, urging them to remain vigilant. He accused these organizations of staging a hypocritical drama. Citing the Haldwani incident, he clarified that this mentality of the BJP is an insult to democratic spirit and a blatant violation of constitutional values. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Please save Telangana’: BRS leader Dasoju Shravan urges Rahul Gandhi to act over CM’s remarks against KCR
HYDERABAD: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader Dasoju Shravan Kumar on Monday appealed to LoP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan to intervene in the state’s political situation, accusing chief minister A Revanth Reddy of using an “abusive political discourse”. Dasoju Shravan said people in Telangana had trusted the Congress and voted it to power based on Rahul Gandhi’s appeals, election declarations and promises. He alleged that the current government had failed to live up to those expectations. “On behalf of the people of Telangana, I make an honest appeal to the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and AICC Telangana in-charge, Meenakshi Natarajan: please save Telangana. The people of Telangana trusted Rahul Gandhi, the several declarations, and the promises made by the Congress Party, voting them into power. In return, what kind of Chief Minister have you given us? A man who relies on aggressive language, brazen loot, and abusive political discourse; just a day after Independence Day, he had the audacity to utter ugly abuses against the Leader of the Opposition in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, K Chandrashekar Rao,” he said. Dasoju Shravan’s remarks came after Reddy on Monday criticised former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, saying he was staying at his farmhouse like Dhritarashtra and ignoring his son’s actions. Reddy also accused BRS leaders of using party workers for their own benefit after losing power. “During the BRS rule, the KCR family benefited, while common people were given importance in the Praja Palana (People’s governance),” he alleged. The chief minister said the Telangana Assembly session would be held in September and urged Congress workers and MLAs to work towards securing a two-thirds majority in the 2029 elections. Reddy said he would continue working for the people and address their concerns. He also said that even “1,000 KCRs” could not harm him as long as he had the support and blessings of the people. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Jharkhand government accepts students’ demands, cancels JSSC-CGL and all exams conducted by TDPL
Jharkhand CM orders probe into recruitment exam irregularities since 2014, announces panel for exam reforms Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday announced the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and all activities associated with TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), including examinations conducted by the company, published results and selections, amid a 24-day-long student protest over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams. The government had earlier announced the cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination and two backlog examinations. Addressing the media at Jaipal Singh Stadium, Soren said the state Cabinet had decided to cancel the JSSC-CGL examination, a key demand of the protesting students. “We have decided to cancel everything associated with TDPL—including the examinations conducted, the results published, the candidates selected or who participated, and all other activities carried out by TDPL,” Soren said. The Chief Minister also ordered a comprehensive inquiry into irregularities in all recruitment examinations conducted from 2014 to the present. “A comprehensive inquiry will be conducted into all errors—minor or major—that have occurred since 2014. We will also soon convene to discuss the amendments made to the MMDR Act by the Central Government; if necessary, we may even call a special session to deliberate on this specific issue,” he said. Soren said investigations by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had brought to light “several shocking facts”. “Since the investigation is ongoing, it is not possible to disclose every detail openly; however, it has been observed that individuals appointed through the CGL process are now being arrested on charges related to irregularities in the JPSC examinations. Furthermore, there appears to be a complex, interconnected network involving various companies that have operated here at different times,” he said. He said the government had directed the concerned department and the CID to conduct a thorough investigation covering examinations held from 2014 onwards. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato welcomed the government’s decision and thanked Soren, the state administration, police, media, students and parents for supporting the movement. Mahato said the students would cooperate with the ongoing investigation and efforts to clean up the recruitment examination system, but stressed that they wanted structural reforms to prevent paper leaks and other irregularities in the future. “We, the students, will continue to support this investigation and the effort to eradicate this corrupt system at its very roots, and we will persist in our struggle regarding the ongoing reform process,” Mahato said. However, the protesting students said not all their demands had been fulfilled, with their demand for a CBI inquiry into the alleged examination irregularities still unresolved. They also said no decision had been taken on the 11th to 13th JPSC examinations. He said the students were awaiting an official notification before deciding their next course of action. “If our issues are resolved and our demands met, why would we need to hold further protests?” he said, while seeking a system that would guarantee against paper leaks and examination irregularities in the future. Mahato said the students were not yet “fully satisfied” despite the government accepting their demands, as they wanted broader reforms across the examination system. “While our demands have been met, we cannot say we are fully satisfied yet, as a long battle still lies ahead,” he said. JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch leader Piyush Kumar Singh said the agitation would continue until the remaining demands were addressed. “No decision has been taken on 11th to 13th JPSC and our demand for CBI inquiry still remains unfulfilled, therefore, our agitation will continue till it is not fulfilled,” Singh said. Meanwhile, the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination has also left candidates who were selected through the process facing uncertainty. Some successful candidates said they would challenge the government’s decision in court. A successful candidate said the appointments had been made following a High Court division bench ruling and that the Supreme Court had also upheld the process. “We were appointed following a High Court division bench ruling. We had the Supreme Court’s seal of approval, yet suddenly, we became unemployed. We are upset with the Chief Minister. Sir, please reconsider this decision. What about the honourable court’s stance? What will happen to the hundreds of our brothers who resigned from previous jobs to join this one?” the candidate said. The candidates said they would approach the court again, pointing out that they had secured their appointments following judicial intervention. Chief Minister Soren said the government would ensure transparency in examination-related reforms and address concerns raised by students. “I do not consider these young people to be different groups. They are all concerned about their future. The government will move ahead with complete transparency on reforms,” he said. The Chief Minister said an existing standard operating procedure (SOP) for conducting examinations should have prevented the irregularities had it been properly followed. He added that further improvements would be made based on suggestions received from stakeholders. The government has also decided to constitute a committee headed by senior IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal to frame rules and procedures for conducting recruitment examinations in a manner that prevents irregularities. A portal has also been opened for students, teachers and parents to submit suggestions on examination reforms, which will subsequently be shared with experts, Soren said. The student agitation in Ranchi, centered on alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), entered its 24th day on Monday. The protesters have been demanding reforms in the examination system, action against those responsible for alleged irregularities and measures to prevent paper leaks and malpractice in future recruitment examinations. With the government now accepting the demand for cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and announcing a wider probe into examinations since 2014, the students are expected to decide their next course of action after reviewing the government’s formal orders. However, the demand for a CBI inquiry and a decision on the 11th to 13th JPSC examinations remain unresolved, raising the possibility that the agitation could continue.
Transgender ID cards to remain valid till pleas against new law decided, Centre tells SC
A Transgender Identity (TGI) card provides official recognition of a person’s self-identified gender and can be used to support changes to their name and gender across official records. The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that transgender identity cards issued before the enactment of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, would remain valid and would not be impacted by the new law. A Transgender Identity (TGI) card provides official recognition of a person’s self-identified gender and can be used to support changes to their name and gender across official records. The government’s transgender portal specifically states that it enables changes to name and gender in official documents. “I have taken instructions. The TGI ID cards issued earlier will continue to operate subject to the outcome (on the petitions),” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana during the hearing of a batch of petitions challenging the 2026 amendment. The amendment has been challenged, among other grounds, for taking away the right to self-identification of gender that was recognised under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. There were around 15 petitions challenging the validity of the amended law. The Solicitor General also said that the Centre will file its response to the petitions. The bench recorded the submissions of the top law officer and fixed the pleas for final hearing after three weeks. On Monday, senior advocate Jayna Kothari, appearing for one of the petitioners, urged the bench to direct restoration of transgender identity cards that had already been cancelled. The bench, however, said it could not issue a general direction on the issue and asked the petitioners to file applications bringing individual cases before it. Kothari also sought protection for persons who had already applied for transgender identity cards and were awaiting their issuance. The bench said it would await the Centre’s reply affidavit before considering the issue. Senior advocate Rajiv Shakdhar, appearing for another petitioner, supported the submission, saying that the balance of convenience was in favour of the petitioners and that benefits already available to transgender persons should not be disturbed. Justice Bagchi said that the court would have to examine such issues on the basis of facts and circumstances of individual cases. Senior advocate Arundhati Katju submitted that the 2019 law was founded on the principle of self-identification of gender. She said that benefits flowing from the parent legislation should not be discontinued merely because of the 2026 amendment. Another advocate raised concerns over disruption of medical services for transgender persons who are currently undergoing treatment. Kanmani, a transgender advocate practising before the Madras High Court, highlighted possible disruption of welfare benefits and other essential services. Senior advocate Anand Grover submitted that some states had issued transgender identity cards on the basis of the Supreme Court’s 2014 judgment in NALSA v. Union of India, rather than under the 2019 legislation, and argued that such cards should also not be affected. The top court had earlier stayed proceedings in petitions pending before various high courts challenging the 2026 amendment after the Centre sought their transfer to the apex court. During the previous hearing on August 3, the bench had orally observed that the amendment could not take away rights already accrued to individuals. The bench had said that it would take up all the pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the 2026 law for final hearing on August 17. On May 4, the bench had raised concern over the possibility of persons masquerading as transgender to avail government schemes. It had sought responses from the Centre and others on the pleas challenging the validity of the new law. On March 25, Parliament passed a bill to amend the law on the protection and rights of transgender persons, which excludes social orientations from the ambit of the statute. It received the President’s assent on March 30. The Act provides for graded punishment based on the gravity of harm inflicted on such people. The petitioners have referred to the apex court’s 2014 judgement which had upheld the transgender persons’ right to decide their self-identified gender. The verdict had directed the Centre and the states to grant legal recognition of their gender identity such as male, female or third gender. One of the pleas filed in the apex court has sought a declaration that the right to self-identification of gender, as recognised by the top court in the 2014 verdict, is a fundamental right under Article 21 that “no legislation may make conditional upon bureaucratic certification, medical procedure, surgical intervention, or any clinical gateway of the State’s choosing”. It has also sought a direction that all certificates of identity lawfully obtained by transgender persons under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, prior to the commencement of the amendment Act, shall remain valid and shall not be invalidated, revoked or rendered ineffective. The plea said that rights and entitlements flowing from those certificates should continue in full force. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights