Rare legislative act: RS passes private bill on transgenders

The Bill was passed with the full strength of the treasury benches, though several opposition members were not present at the time

After 36 years, a private member’s Bill, seeking to protect the rights of transgenders was on Friday passed despite the government’s initial resistance in the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling coalition is short of numbers.

The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014, moved by Tiruchi Siva (DMK), was unanimously passed by a voice vote after the government came on board to avoid a division as members of opposition parties got together. Siva rejected all pleas from the government side to withdraw the Bill. He was joined by members from the Congress and some other parties.

Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi tried to persuade Siva, promising that a comprehensive legislation would be brought by the government on the issue.

However, Siva and other opposition parties insisted the Bill be put to vote. Siva even insisted on a division of votes, which determines how each member voted. At this, Jaitley said it would not be proper if the House was divided on this issue, as everyone was in favour of the rights of transgenders.

The last such Bill passed by Parliament was The Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill, 1968.