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Equality and reservation (Articles 14 to 18)

Articles 14 to 18 and the law built on them: equality before the law, reservation and its limits, and the laws that carry equality to particular groups.

Showing 1 of 4 articles, those that changed from 1 to 30 June 2026.Show all

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026

Mains

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026 changes the Act of 2019: it replaces self identification of gender with verification by medical boards and gives the District Magistrate discretion before a certificate is issued.

Parliament passed it on 24 March 2026 in the Lok Sabha and 25 March in the Rajya Sabha.
Petitioners argue that it conflicts with National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India (2014), which recognised the right to self identify one's gender under Articles 14, 19 and 21.
Article 139A lets the Supreme Court withdraw to itself cases that raise the same substantial question of law in several High Courts, so that rulings do not conflict.

What changed

15 Jun 2026Newnewly added
- A Bench of the Chief Justice of India and Justice V. Mohana stayed the High Court proceedings on challenges to the Act and issued notice on the Union's petition to transfer them to the Supreme Court.
- The challenges were pending in the Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala and Delhi High Courts.
- The Solicitor General asked for a three judge Bench, since the 2014 ruling was decided by two judges.
Mains: Whether a State may require medical verification of gender, after the 2014 ruling recognised self identification, is a question of dignity and autonomy under Article 21.
The Hindu, 15 Jun 2026: Supreme Court stays High Court proceedings on challenges to new transgender law (opens in a new tab) · LiveLaw, 15 Jun 2026: Supreme Court stays HC proceedings in pleas challenging Transgender Amendment Act 2026, issues notice on Centre's transfer petition (opens in a new tab)

Also filed elsewhere

Census 2027 · on Representation: delimitation, seats and women's reservation
The census is a Union subject, held under the Census Act, 1948 by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, who works under the Home Ministry.