Ahead of the upcoming special Parliament session, the Supreme Court is set to consider a plea on Monday for the immediate enforcement of 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies. Congress leader Jaya Thakur has filed the petition, emphasizing that the one-third quota for women should not be delayed.
The plea advocates for the prompt implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which mandates one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. The Supreme Court had previously noted the challenges in overturning the provision that links the quota to the next decennial Census and delimitation exercise.
Highlighting the underrepresentation of women in elected bodies despite their significant population share, the plea argues against the necessity of such preconditions. The Parliament is expected to address the Women’s Reservation (Amendment) Bill during a special session starting April 16, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging support for the legislation’s unanimous passage.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of increased female participation in legislative bodies for India’s development goals. However, the Congress has raised objections to the proposed special session, citing a breach of the Model Code of Conduct amidst ongoing Assembly election campaigns in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
