Title: Women’s Reservation Bill Becomes Law, but Implementation Timeframe Questioned
Subtitle: Senior Congress Leader Criticizes Delay in Enforcing Historic Legislation
Date: [Insert Date]
New Delhi – The Women’s Reservation Bill, which seeks to reserve 33 percent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies, has officially become law after receiving the assent of President Drabupati Murmu. However, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram has criticized the delayed implementation of the legislation, calling it a “ridiculous illusion.”
In a social media post on his X page, Chidambaram noted that while the bill has cleared the necessary legislative hurdles, it could take several years before it is effectively implemented. He questioned the usefulness of a law that remains inactive for many years, specifically pointing to the general elections in 2029. Chidambaram likened the Women’s Reservation Bill to the reflection of the moon in a bowl of water, highlighting its status as an electoral illusion.
According to a notification issued by the Law Ministry on Friday, President Drabupati Murmu granted his assent to the Women’s Reservation Bill on Thursday. As a result, the legislation has been renamed as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act.
The bill was passed within the newly constructed Parliament building earlier this month, marking its significance as the first bill of the new session. In the Lok Sabha, 454 members voted in favor of the bill, with only two MPs from AIMIM voting against it. AIMIM alleged that the bill failed to provide internal quotas for Muslim women and OBC women, a demand shared by the Congress party.
Although the reservation for women will only come into effect after the completion of the new census and constituency re-delimitation, some opposition members have called for its implementation in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The bill was subsequently discussed in the Rajya Sabha and passed unanimously on the 21st, with 215 members voting in favor.
Given that it will take a minimum of six years to conduct the census and redraw constituency boundaries, reservation for women is expected to be enforced in the 2029 elections. However, concerns remain regarding the lengthy timeframe between the bill’s passage and its eventual implementation.
Critics argue that the delay raises doubts about the government’s commitment to gender equality and empowerment. As the nation waits for the promised transformation, the Women’s Reservation Bill serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for greater female representation in India’s political landscape.