Women's Reservation Bill: One-third quota for women in Lok Sabha, state assemblies to cease after 15 years

The Central government on Tuesday introduced the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Women's Reservation Bill) in the Lok Sabha to reserve seats for women in Parliament as well as in state legislative assemblies..Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal sought leave to introduce the Bill in the Lok Sabha before a ruckus ensued and the proceedings were briefly adjourned.Members of Parliament objected as they had not seen the Bill. However, the Central government, through Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, maintained that the Bill had been 'uploaded in the supplementary list of business.'Shortly thereafter, proceedings resumed and the Bill was introduced by voice vote before the House was adjourned till 11 AM on Wednesday..A legislation on similar lines was sought to be introduced back in 2008. While that Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010, it failed to see the light of day..As per the statement of objects and reasons of the newly introduced Bill, the role of women, who constitute half the country's population, is extremely important to realise the goal of becoming Vikasit Bharat by 2047."After completing 75 years of Independence, the nation has begun its journey into Amritkal with a goal of becoming Vikasit Bharat' by 2047. Realisation of this goal will require contribution of all sections of society in the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas. The role of women, constituting a half of the population, is extremely important in realisation of this goal.".In this piece, we explore the provisions that the bill proposes to implement..Reservation for women in legislative assembly of the NCT Delhi .Under Article 239AA of the Constitution, seats will be reserved for women in the Legislative Assembly of Delhi.One-third of the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) will be reserved for women.One-third of the total number of seats that are to be filled by direct election in the assembly, including the number of seats reserved for SCs, will be reserved for women in a manner that Parliament may by law determine..Reservation for women in Lok Sabha.Reservation for women in the Lok Sabha will be under a new Article 330A, which is proposed to be added to the Constitution.As per this provision, one-third of the total number of seats reserved in the Lok Sabha for SCs and Scheduled Tribes (STs) under Article 330(2) will be reserved for women belonging to SCs and STs.One-third of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in the House, including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the SCs and STs, will be reserved for women..Reservation for women in state legislative assemblies.Reservation for women in state legislative assemblies will be under a new provision, Article 332A, proposed to be added to the Constitution.As per 332A, one-third of the total number of seats reserved for SCs and STs in state legislative assemblies under Article 332(3) will be reserved for women belonging to SCs and STs.Similarly, one-third of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in state legislative assemblies, including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to SCs and STs, will be reserved for women..Reservation to take effect after a delimitation exercise.A new Article 334A, proposed to be added to the Constitution, stipulates that such reservation will take effect after a delimitation exercise which is to be conducted following the publication of figures from the first census held after the Act commences.The reservation will cease to have effect 15 years after the commencement of the Act.Article 334A(2) adds that the reservation may continue till such date as Parliament may determine..It is also made clear that the existing representation in the Lok Sabha and assemblies of states and NCT Delhi will not be affected until the dissolution of these houses..[Read the Bill]