Women’s Reservation Bill:
A political party has raised the demand of bringing the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill to Parliament, ahead of the monsoon session.
- The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in May 2008 and was referred to a standing committee. In 2010, it was passed in the House and transmitted finally to the Lok Sabha. However, the Bill lapsed with the 15th Lok Sabha.
- The original idea for this bill originated from a constitutional amendment which was passed back in 1993.
- The constitutional amendment stated that a random one third of village council leader, or Sarpanch, positions in the gram panchayat should be reserved for women.
- The Women’s Reservation Bill was launched as a long term plan to extend this reservation to Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.
- The bill seeks to reserve 33% seats in Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies for women.
- Reserved seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in the state or union territory.
- Reservation of seats for women shall cease to exist 15 years after the commencement of this Amendment Act.
