Updated at Sept 20, 11.45 p.m.

The Parliament today passed the Women's Reservation Bill with the Rajya Sabha giving its assent unanimously, a day after the legislation - Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 was cleared by the Lok Sabha.

With no member voting against the Bill, it received a total of 215 votes in the Upper House. 

Earlier today evening, prime minister Narendra Modi had requested the Rajya Sabha MPs to pass the Women's Reservation Bill unanimously.

Updated at Sept 20 at 8 p.m.

After a long day of debates and arguments in the new parliament house, the Lok Sabha has passed Women's Reservation Bill with 454 votes, with two votes against it.

The Bill mandates the reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha. As per the amendment, one-third of the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha will be reserved for women.  It was introduced as the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill by law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and became the first Bill to be introduced in the new Parliament building.

The Central government earlier today said the discussions on the Women’s Reservation Bill will be initiated as it will be moved for passage in Lok Sabha during the day.

According to the Lok Sabha’s bulletin, the government will seek passage of the much awaited legislation today itself.

Speaking to mediapersons outside Parliament, law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, “Discussions will be held throughout the day on the Bill. They will begin from 11 a.m. and are scheduled to continue till 6 p.m.”

The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 or the Women’s Reservation Bill, was introduced in Lok Sabha in the supplementary list of business on Sept 19.

It proposes that the reservation would continue for a period of 15 years and there will be quota for SC and STs within the reserved seats for women.

The legislation, however, is unlikely to be implemented in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, sources said. 

It will be rolled out only after the delimitation process is over, most probably in 2029, they added.

The reservation will come into effect after a delimitation exercise is undertaken and will continue for 15 years. Seats reserved for women will be rotated after each delimitation exercise, according to the bill.

Women’s Reservation Bill

The bill ensures reservation of 33% seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies.

In May 2008, the women’s reservation bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha and was referred to a standing committee. It was passed in the upper house in 2010 and then it was sent to Lok Sabha. However, it could not be passed and lapsed with the 15th Lok Sabha.

(Source: IANS)

-Edited for style

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