Women’s Reservation Amendment Bill Cleared in Lok Sabha Amid Uproar, Opposition Calls Delimitation Move ‘Anti-Constitutional’

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, aimed at modifying the women’s reservation law, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday after a sharp debate and division of votes. The bill was passed for introduction with 251 MPs voting in favour and 185 opposing it.

The government also introduced two accompanying ordinary bills — the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill — to implement the amended women’s quota law in Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir.

Opposition Raises Objections Over Delimitation Link

The introduction of the bill followed a fiery 40-minute debate, during which Opposition parties objected to linking the women’s reservation amendment with delimitation.

Congress leader K. C. Venugopal criticised the government for bringing the amendment separately, asking why these changes were not included when Parliament passed the women’s quota law in 2023.

He said the proposed amendment and delimitation exercise were “anti-constitutional”.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also questioned the urgency behind the move, saying the party supports reservation for women but wants a fresh census before any delimitation exercise.

Amit Shah Defends Government’s Move

Responding to the Opposition, Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended the introduction of the bill, stating that Census 2027 is already underway and that the government has also decided to conduct caste enumeration.

He rejected the Opposition’s claims and said the constitutional process was being followed. Shah also reiterated that religion-based reservation is unconstitutional.

DMK and Other Opposition Parties Protest in Parliament

Members of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam protested in the Lok Sabha by wearing black clothes, opposing what they described as an attempt to use women’s reservation as a route for delimitation.

DMK leader T R Baalu said the party supported the 2023 women’s reservation law but opposed the new amendment because it was focused on seat redistribution.

RSP MP N K Premchandran also opposed the bill, arguing that the amendment was more about delimitation than actual reservation.

Lok Sabha Seats May Rise to 850 Under New Amendment

As per the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, the number of Lok Sabha seats could increase from 543 to a maximum of 850 to operationalise 33 percent reservation for women before the 2029 general elections.

The draft bill also proposes increasing seats in state assemblies and Union territory legislatures to accommodate the reservation quota.

The reserved seats for women in the Lok Sabha and assemblies will be allotted on a rotational basis across constituencies in each state and Union territory.

Opposition Unites Against Delimitation Provision

Several Opposition parties have united against the delimitation provisions of the amendment bill, arguing that they are not opposing women’s reservation but are against what they see as a politically motivated redistribution of parliamentary seats.

The debate over the amendment is expected to intensify in the coming days as the government pushes to operationalise women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

1. What is the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill?
It is a proposed amendment to operationalise the women’s reservation law by increasing Lok Sabha and assembly seats after delimitation.

2. Why is the Opposition opposing the bill?
Opposition parties say the bill links women’s reservation with delimitation and seat redistribution, which they call unconstitutional.

3. How many MPs supported the introduction of the bill?
The bill was introduced after 251 MPs voted in favour and 185 voted against it.

4. What changes does the bill propose?
It proposes increasing Lok Sabha seats up to 850 and reserving 33 percent seats for women through rotation.

5. When will the women’s reservation be implemented?
The government aims to implement it before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections after the delimitation process.