Women's Reservation Bill Passed in the Rajya Sabha.

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Women's Reservation Bill Passed in the Rajya Sabha.

The Rajya Sabha on March 9, 2010 took a ‘historic and giant step’ by voting (191 for and 1 against) to amend the Constitution, providing one third reservation of seats in Parliament and State Assemblies for women. The Bill has to be passed by the Lok Sabha and ratified by 50 per cent of the States before it comes into effect.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who was present through the stormy debate said that “landmark

legislation was a living proof that the heart of India is democratically sound and in the right place.”

Key Features and Implications of Women's Reservation Bill

One-third of all seats in the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies (inlcuding Delhi) will be reserved for women. In the case of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the reservation will work as a quota within quota—a third of the seats currently reserved for the two categories will be sub-reserved for SC/ST women. Reservation of seats for women will be in rotation and will cease 15 years after the  commencement of the Act. Seat allocation will be done in a manner determined by Parliament through enactment of a law.  Since a third of the seats will be reserved during each general election, each seat in

the Lok Sabha and each seat in each of the Assemblies will have one reserved term and two free terms in the course of three elections.