Dr Aparna Lalingkar, an expert member of the National Council for Transgender Persons (Express photo).The Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment (Dr Virendra Kumar) must answer why the National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP) was completely bypassed during the drafting of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, according to NCTP expert member Dr Aparna Lalingkar.Speaking to The Indian Express, she termed the change in the definition of transgender persons in the bill unnecessary. She said it will rush people towards choosing gender affirming surgery for recognition of their identity.“I will try to contact our national coordinator and request a meeting with the Union minister. We want to meet with him to ask why we were not consulted. I want an answer to that,” said Dr Lalingkar.NCTP is a statutory body constituted by the government in 2020 under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, to advise on policies, monitor programmes, and redress grievances for the transgender community.“The government has formed this committee, so why was the committee not consulted when this important amendment was drafted? Did you think the government-appointed committee is incompetent? We deserve answers,” said Dr Lalingkar.The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, introduces specific categories of who qualifies as a transgender person, a departure from the 2019 Act, which allowed for self-determined identity.Dr Lalingkar also claimed she was not even invited to a meeting with the minister scheduled for March 21, after the bill was introduced in Lok Sabha. When four members of the NTPC attended the meeting, minister Virendra Kumar reportedly did not attend, stating he was unwell. Members Kalki Subramaniam and Rituparna Neog subsequently resigned from the council.Story continues below this ad“I was not given a call,” said Dr Lalingkar. “I was surprised, so the next morning I was continuously calling officers. I found that these people were answering just for the sake of answering. There was no logical thinking. One official told me ‘I did not have your contact.’ How is that possible? All NCTP member details are there in the gazette and with the ministry.”She also said the bill forces people to take a rushed decision on gender affirming surgery for recognition of their identity, “The 2019 Act was giving everybody the choice to determine (their gender). To be at their own pace. Meaning there was no rush to go for surgery. Right now, they have made it so that if you have done the surgery, then you will be considered a transgender person. Rushing for any such kind of surgery is not a good solution.”Dr Lalingkar also spoke about how the development has led to a breakdown in trust, “In the community, the total unrest has started. The trust has gone. Already, these people face a lot of depression. They face all these problems, health issues are there, and they are taking medicines. Now again, pressure (from this bill) is there. It’s not doing the community any good… It will not benefit society. It will not do well for even the ruling party.”She said the lack of consultation with the NCTP highlights ongoing issues within the ministry’s operations. She claimed that the frequent transfer of officials, due to transgender welfare not being seen as a desirable assignment, has previously created challenges.Story continues below this adDr Lalingkar, a mathematician and educational technologist with a PhD in Information Technology, was nominated to the council in 2023. She is one of two cisgender members among the five nominated experts.Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read MoreClick here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Transgender Bill