Women’s Reservation Bill tabled; debate erupts over implementation timeline
New Delhi: Putting all speculations to rest, the Union government on Tuesday introduced the Women’s Reservation Bill to reserve one-third seats in the Parliament and state legislative assemblies. The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eight Amendment) Bill, 2023 proposes to reserve “as nearly as may be" one-third of the seats kept already reserved for people from the scheduled caste and scheduled (SC/ST) tribe communities.
The Bill, if passed, would come into effect post “an exercise of delimitation is undertaken for this purpose after the relevant figures for the first census taken after commencement" of the Act. Further the Act will be effective for a period of 15 years post its commencement.
In his address to the Lok Sabha in the new parliament building, prime minister Narendra Modi said, “‘Narishakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ will further strengthen our democracy." Stressing on the government’s commitment to get the bill pass and enact an Act, Modi said: “I assure all the mothers, sisters and daughters of the nation that we are committed to making this bill into law"" Taking forward the resolution of women-led development, our government is today presenting a major Constitutional Amendment Bill. The purpose of this Bill is to expand the participation of women in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas" Rotation of seats reserved for women in Lok Sabha, legislative assemblies and the assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi would take effect after each subsequent exercise of delimitation, to be determined by the parliament, according to the bill.
The statement of objects and reasons of the bill noted that “true empowerment" of women will require greater in the decision-making process. Noting that there has been a long
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