A little after 10:30 pm on March 20, Kalki Subramaniam, a transgender activist and the South India representative for the National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP), got a call from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This was seven days after the Union Minister Virendra Kumar had introduced the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha.“Before introducing the Bill, the NCTP was not consulted,” Subramaniam told The Indian Express. Her colleague, activist and representative of the Northeast region in the council, Rituparna Neog, told The Indian Express, “After the Bill was introduced, some of us wrote to the ministry representing our dissent. Then we were called for a meeting with the minister.”The NCTP was constituted by the Centre in August 2020 to “advise the central government on the formulation of policies, programmes, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons”. Yet, on arguably the most crucial legislation affecting trans rights, its members say they were kept out of the loop.Also Read | SC-appointed panel urges Govt to withdraw Transgender Persons Amendment BillSubramaniam and Neog resigned from their position in the council on March 25.The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on March 24 and in the Rajya Sabha the next day amid protests from the Opposition, even as Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said extensive discussions had already taken place for a year as part of the proceedings of a standing committee.At the meeting scheduled for March 21 at Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, four transgender persons, including Subramaniam, managed to reach. “The meeting was called at such short notice that other members were not able to get flights to meet the minister,” Subramaniam said.The four members who were able to make it to Delhi — Subramaniam, Raveena Bareeha, Vidya Rajput and Abhina Aher — waited about two hours when they were told that the minister would not be coming in. “We were told that the minister is unwell and will not be able to meet us,” Subramaniam said.Story continues below this adALSO READ | To win rights, transgender community and people with disabilities must present a united frontA Senior Economic Adviser heard out the opposition to the Bill from the four members. “She was dismissive of almost all the suggestions that the council members made,” Subramaniam claimed.“We had asked for self-identification to be retained when it came to deciding gender identity. We were not in favour of the medical board and the stress on the body to determine whether the person is trans or not,” Neog said.“Even without our suggestions, the Bill will pass — that was the crux of what we were told,” Subramaniam said.After the unfruitful meeting, the transwomen tried to meet the minister in person at his residence for “five minutes”. “We were at the gate of this residence, but were not allowed inside. They said that the minister was unwell and resting,” Subramaniam claimed.Story continues below this adAlso Read | Transgender Rights Amendment Bill: Key Changes to 2019 Act ExplainedThe ministry did not respond to queries on the matter.The next day, on March 22, Subramaniam reached out to the minister’s personal assistant. “I sent a document detailing my objections to the Bill. The PA said it will be passed on to the minister,” Subramaniam said.Replying to the debate on the Bill in the Lok Sabha, Virendra Kumar said on March 24, “Provisions have been brought to ensure security for those individuals who, due to their biological condition, face severe social ostracisation for no fault of their own… along with giving legal rights, this law also provides respect and dignity.”The NCTP has the Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment as the Chairperson (ex officio), and the Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment as the Vice-Chairperson (ex officio). Among its mandates is to “monitor and evaluate the impact of policies and programmes designed for achieving equality and full participation of transgender persons and to review and coordinate the activities of all the departments of government and other governmental and Non-Governmental Organisations which are dealing with matters relating to transgender persons”.Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice. Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India. Expertise & Focus Areas Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include: Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India. Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism. Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities. National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting. Authoritativeness & Trust A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society. Find all stories by Nikhila Henry here. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd