NEW DELHI: India’s Supreme Court has directed that transgender identity cards issued before the implementation of the country’s new transgender rights legislation will remain valid until the court delivers its final ruling on petitions challenging the law.
Image: The New Indian Express
A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana heard around 15 petitions on Monday challenging the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act 2026.
During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the central government, assured the court that existing Transgender Identity (TGI) cards would continue to be recognised while the legal challenge remains pending.
The assurance followed an earlier direction from the Supreme Court requiring the government to maintain the existing status of the identity cards and refrain from making changes to them during the proceedings.
The Centre sought additional time to submit its formal response to the petitions. The court granted the request and scheduled the matter for a final hearing in approximately three weeks.
The interim arrangement means transgender people holding identity cards issued before the new legislation took effect will continue to be able to use those documents until the Supreme Court reaches a final decision on the challenges to the amended law.
