21-09-2023 : In a historic moment, the Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house of Parliament, unanimously approved the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023 on a significant development aimed at empowering women in the country. This groundbreaking legislation mandates the reservation of one-third of seats for women in both the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament) and state assemblies.
This momentous decision came after rigorous discussions and deliberations during a special session of Parliament. The Lok Sabha, India’s lower house of Parliament, had already passed this landmark bill a day earlier, setting the stage for its consideration in the Rajya Sabha.
Across party lines, Rajya Sabha members displayed unwavering support for the bill, often referred to as the “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.” An impressive 72 members of the Upper House engaged in a marathon debate regarding this pivotal legislation. The discourse, followed by the voting process, extended well past 11:30 PM. To everyone’s acclaim, a resounding 214 members voted in favor, and not a single vote was cast in opposition.
Throughout the discussion, several opposition members had proposed amendments to the bill, but these were ultimately rejected by the House.
In his response to the debate, Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Minister of Law and Justice (Independent Charge), assured the Parliament that there should be no doubts about the bill’s eventual implementation. He emphasized that the Constitution necessitates the completion of the Census and delimitation processes before the bill can be fully enacted.
Interestingly, as the Minister delivered his response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an appearance in the Rajya Sabha, greeted by enthusiastic chants of ‘Modi, Modi’ from his party members.
While extending their ‘whole-hearted and unconditional’ support to the bill, members from opposition parties advocated for a sub-quota within the proposed reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). They also called upon the government to expedite the bill’s implementation.
According to Clause 5 of the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023, the reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will be enforced following the completion of delimitation and the availability of pertinent Census data.
Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and President of the Congress party, expressed his party’s unwavering support for the bill but stressed the need for the government to provide a specific implementation timeline. He cautioned against the bill becoming a mere ‘jumla’ (empty promise) and called for a sub-quota for OBC women.
The Statement of Objects and Reasons accompanying the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023 highlights that this legislation aims to bolster the participation of women as public representatives in policy-making at both the state and national levels.
During the debate, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman underlined that the bill had been meticulously crafted, given India’s critical stage in the development process. She also pointed out the absence of electoral reservation for OBCs in the Constitution, in contrast to provisions for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
Critics questioned the timing of the bill and argued against any conditions or caveats associated with its implementation. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Vandana Chavan, for instance, contended that the government could implement the bill as early as the 2024 elections, making any delay unnecessary.
The reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies has been a long-standing demand, with previous attempts to pass such legislation falling short of success. The most recent attempt occurred during the UPA-II government in 2010 when the Rajya Sabha approved the Women’s Reservation bill, but it could not secure passage in the Lok Sabha.
Following the passage of the bill, the Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die, marking a pivotal moment in India’s journey toward greater gender inclusivity in its legislative bodies.