Parliament special session likely to take up Women’s Reservation Bill

The Women’s Reservation Bill or the Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, which proposes 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, was passed in March 2010 in the Rajya Sabha amid high drama when the UPA Government headed by Manmohan Singh.

As the consultation process to implement 'one-nation, one-election' would take a while, the government is also keeping its options open of taking up some key bills- like the Women’s Reservation Bill- as part of the legislative business being considered for the special Parliament session this month.

Top sources in the government told DH that if the political decision to go ahead with the bill is taken, the Modi government may withdraw the existing 2010 bill brought by the Congress government in the Rajya Sabha and instead introduce a new one.

The Women’s Reservation Bill or the Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, which proposes 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, was passed in March 2010 in the Rajya Sabha amid high drama when the UPA Government headed by Manmohan Singh. However, the bill was not passed in the 15th Lok Sabha due to stiff opposition from several political parties including Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal parties. Parties including SP and RJD demanded that among 33 per cent of women's reservations, sub-category reservations for OBC, SC and ST should be made.

By passing the bill, the Modi government was eyeing to expose differences in the opposition ranks. Since Congress has backed the bill, it may have to face criticism from its alliance partners for supporting the bill.

Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi has written two letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi assuring her party’s support for the bill.

The Women's Reservation Bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in 1996 as the 81st Amendment Bill.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told media that, "Parliament session we have called and there are important items. The agenda will be circulated very shortly. There is enough time and required mandatory time for the circulation of agenda will be followed.”

However, he declined to comment on the items on the agenda and said it's in the "final stage" of preparation.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal earlier informed the Rajya Sabha in his written reply that the women’s reservation Bill requires “careful consideration” on the basis of consensus among all political parties before it is brought to Parliament.

Meghwal said the Union government is committed to gender justice. “The issue needs careful consideration on the basis of consensus among all political parties before a Bill for amendment in the Constitution is brought before Parliament,” the Law Minister said.