NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Thursday witnessed the introduction of a landmark bill aimed at reserving one-third of seats for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies. The move, presented during a special session, sparked immediate debate and objections from opposition parties.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal formally presented the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026. Accompanying this legislative proposal was the Delimitation Bill, 2026, designed to facilitate the practical implementation of the proposed reservation quota. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also introduced the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, as part of the government’s broader legislative agenda for the session.
The introduction of these bills was met with vociferous opposition from members of various parties. Congress Member of Parliament K.C. Venugopal voiced strong objections to the proposals, formally recording his dissent. He alleged that the government’s approach was undermining established constitutional principles.
In response to the concerns raised, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the House. They clarified that the bills had merely been introduced and would be subjected to detailed discussion and deliberation at a later stage. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla assured all members that adequate time would be allocated for a comprehensive debate on the proposed legislation.
During the discussions, Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament Dharmendra Yadav brought forth concerns regarding representation issues. He specifically raised allegations of the exclusion of Muslim women from the proposed framework, a charge that the government swiftly refuted, deeming it unconstitutional.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, while expressing support for the fundamental principle of women’s reservation, raised questions about the perceived delays in conducting the national Census. He suggested that the delay was occurring amidst increasing demands for a caste-based enumeration, hinting at potential political motivations.
Responding to these points, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the Census process had already commenced and that a caste enumeration would follow. He further emphasized that the Constitution of India does not permit any form of discrimination on religious grounds, addressing concerns about inclusivity.
The parliamentary proceedings were marked by sharp exchanges between members of the ruling treasury benches and the opposition. The debates surrounding the Women’s Reservation Bill and the associated legislation are anticipated to continue throughout the special session.
The Women’s Reservation Bill, officially designated as the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, aims to effectuate a 33 percent reservation for women across the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. The proposal includes provisions to increase the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha to 850 seats. It also mandates a fresh delimitation process, which would be based on the recently concluded Census and is projected to be implemented by the year 2029.
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