• UGI USER
  • Dec 13, 2023
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LOK SABHA PASSES BILLS FOR WOMEN’S QUOTA IN J&K AND PUDUCHERRY

Why in the News?

  • Lok Sabha approves two Bills extending the 33% women’s reservation from the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act to Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry.
  • The amendment aims to ensure women’s representation in the Legislative Assembly of these Union Territories.
Source: ToI

Legal Amendments Needed:

  • The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, requires parliamentary amendments to provide reservation for women in the Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory.
  • Similar legal changes are necessary for granting reservation to women in the Puducherry Assembly, according to the introduced Bills.

About Women Reservation Act 2023 :

The Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 introduces significant provisions for women’s reservation in political bodies:

  • Reservation Provisions: The Act mandates one-third reservation for women in Lok Sabha, State legislative assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, inclusive of SCs and STs.
  • Historical Proposals and Challenges: Previous attempts at constitutional amendments faced lapses due to Lok Sabha dissolution. The present Act must adhere to the Supreme Court’s “Triple Test.”
  • Effective Period and Census Publication: Commencing post-census, the 15-year reservation period can be extended based on parliamentary decisions.
  • Rotation of Seats: The allocation of seats for women will follow parliamentary legislation after each delimitation process.
  • Current Representation Statistics: In the 17th Lok Sabha, approximately 15% of total members are women, while women’s representation in state legislative assemblies averages around 9%.
  • International Mandate: As a signatory of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1979, India is committed to eliminating gender-based political discrimination.