19 Sep 2023 9:14 AM GMT
On the second day (September 19) of the special session of the Parliament, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eight Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. This bill seeks to reserve 33 percent of seats in the Lok Sabha, the state legislatures, and the Delhi legislative assembly for women.
According to the Bill, women reservation will take effect after the delimitation exercise following the first census after the the Bill becomes a law. Women reservation will come into end after 15 years from the date of its commencement.
The bill was tabled in the first Lok Sabha session held in the new Parliament house. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a "historic occasion".
"We have had a lot of discussion over women's reservation bill for several years. But finally, yesterday in a cabinet meeting, our govenment approved the bill that will be introduced today", PM Modi said.
Text of the Constitution (128th) Amendment Bill 2023, which seeks to provide 1/3rd reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.#WomenReservation to take effect after the delimitation exercise after the first census following the passing of the Bill.… pic.twitter.com/gqaFC9bCMi
The last time a bill to reserve seats for women in the Lower House of the Parliament, state legislatures, and Delhi legislative assembly, was introduced was over a decade ago, when the Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2008 was passed by the Rajya Sabha. This bill, however, lapsed after the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-14).
Crucial differences between 2008 and 2023 Bills
The 2008 bill proposed amendments to three constitutional provisions – Article 239AA (Special provisions with respect to Delhi), Article 331 (Representation of the Anglo-Indian community in the House of the People), and Article 333 (Representation of the Anglo-Indian community in the Legislative Assemblies of the States). Additionally, it introduced three new articles, namely Articles 330A, 332A, and 334A. The first two newly proposed articles sought to introduce reservation for women in Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies, while the last article contained a sunset clause for this affirmative policy to be phased out after a period of 15 years.
A crucial difference between the earlier bill and the constitutional amendment bill that has now been introduced is that it is proposed to be enforced after an exercise of delimitation is undertaken for the purpose following the first census after the enactment of the bill, although the sunset clause has been retained. Provisions relating to the reservation for the Anglo-Indian community have also been left undisturbed, unlike in the previous bill which sought to amend Articles 331 and 333.
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