On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha overwhelmingly approved the 128th Constitution Amendment Bill, known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. This historic legislation aims to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for women. Concurrently, Home Minister Amit Shah declared that the crucial census and delimitation processes, essential for implementing this reservation, will be conducted shortly after the 2024 elections.
Since the proposed legislation is a constitutional amendment bill, it underwent a voting procedure by division. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla disclosed the voting results, revealing that 454 members supported the bill, while only 2 members opposed it. As per the stipulated rules, such a bill must secure passage through a special majority, which constitutes two-thirds of the members present and voting.
The proposed legislation advocates for a one-third reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, including the Delhi Assembly, for women hailing from three distinct categories: General, Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribes. In accordance with the Bill’s provisions, its implementation will be deferred until the completion of the census and delimitation processes, effectively postponing it until at least 2029.
During the debate on the Bill, Home Minister Amit Shah addressed concerns regarding potential delays in its implementation. He confidently stated, “The forthcoming government will promptly initiate the census and delimitation procedures following the upcoming general election, thereby paving the way for the realization of women’s reservations in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.” This assertion suggests that women’s reservation in these legislative bodies will likely become a reality after 2029, with the next general election scheduled for the following year.
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