Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP and leader of the party in the upper house, Derek O'Brien, on Thursday criticised the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it "draconian" and raising concerns over the manner in which it was introduced in Parliament.

The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday. It seeks to provide a precise definition of the term "transgender" and proposes graded punishments based on the severity of harm inflicted on such individuals, PTI reported.

In a post on X, the Trinamool Congress leader said the legislation was brought in without adequate scrutiny. "The Transgender Persons Bill, 2026 sneakily introduced in Parliament - draconian. Expect no better from government which has a dubious record of MOCKING PARLIAMENT," O'Brien wrote.

The senior MP added, "20 years ago, 6 out of 10 bills would be sent to committees for scrutiny. Now, only 2 out of 10 bills scrutinized".

Concerns over provisions in the bill

According to the draft, identification of a transgender person "cannot be based on any acquirable characteristics, personal choice, or self-perceived identity of an individual." This provision has drawn criticism from several quarters, as per PTI.

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Trans rights activists have raised objections to the proposed amendments, arguing that such definitions could restrict how individuals identify themselves. They say the provisions may affect the autonomy and recognition of transgender persons.

Activists demand withdrawal

Activists have urged the government to withdraw the bill entirely. They argue that the proposed changes could harm the rights, dignity, and identity of transgender communities, PTI reported.

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The criticism comes amid a broader debate on legislative scrutiny and inclusivity. While the government has not yet responded to these concerns, the bill is expected to be discussed further as it moves through the legislative process.