New Delhi, April 24: In a rare legislative action, a private member’s Bill seeking to protect the rights of transgenders was passed unanimously by voice vote in the Rajya Sabha Friday.
The ‘Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014, which was moved by Tiruchi Siva of the DMK, was passed after leader of the House and Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said it would not be proper if the House is divided on this issue as all feel in favour of the rights of transgenders.
Moving the bill for passage, Siva said 29 nations and leading democracies in the world including US, UK, Canada, France, Australia, Italy and Singapore had legislations protecting the rights of transgenders.
The Bill was passed with the full strength of the treasury benches, though several opposition members were not present at the time.
The Bill was passed by voice vote in the presence of 19 Union Ministers, including eight Cabinet Ministers.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also present.
Siva later shook hands with the senior members in the House, thanking them for supporting him in the passage of the Bill.PTI