Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury asks Telangana govt. to oppose trans law amendments in Supreme Court

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury has written to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, requesting the State government to take a stance in the ongoing Supreme Court challenges to recent amendments to the Transgender Rights law. The amendments, passed in March, have sparked widespread protests from the transgender community due to their removal of self-identification rights and requirement of medical certification.

Chowdhury, a vocal critic of the amendments, has asked the Congress-led Telangana government to support the constitutional challenges currently before the Supreme Court. In her letter to Reddy, Chowdhury seeks the government's assistance in defending transgender persons' constitutional rights and dignity by consulting with the state's Additional Advocate General.

She also urges the Telangana administration to assess the impact of the amendments on the State's welfare system and commitment to transgender rights, warning that the amended law could conflict with existing provisions. Chowdhury emphasized that her State has consistently championed inclusion, social justice, and constitutional morality, and that Telangana's intervention in this matter would hold significant legal and moral weight.

During the debate on the amendments in the Rajya Sabha, Chowdhury highlighted that the Congress party strongly opposed the legislation, arguing that it violated principles of dignity, equality, and self-identification recognized by the Supreme Court and threatened Articles 14, 15, 19, and 21 of the Constitution. Following the adoption of the amendments, a delegation of transgender activists met with Indian National Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

In response, the official Congress account stated that Gandhi reiterated the party's firm support for transgender rights and its intention to oppose the Bill in Parliament. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the case on August 17.