Parliament Special Session: It was Rajiv Gandhi’s dream Bill, says Sonia Gandhi

Prior to her address in the Lok Sabha regarding the Women’s Reservation Bill, Sonia Gandhi, the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, remarked, ““It was Rajiv ji’s (Gandhi’s) dream (Bill).”

The 128th Amendment to the Constitution Bill of 2023 aims to introduce three new articles and one new clause.

The newly proposed Clause 239AA lays out various provisions concerning the reservation of seats for women. Specifically, it necessitates that one-third of the seats set aside for scheduled castes (SC) must also be allocated to women. Additionally, it requires that one-third of all seats filled through direct elections in various legislative bodies, including the Delhi legislative assembly, be reserved for women.

In the context of the recently introduced Article 330A, it expands the reservation for women in the Lok Sabha. It states that one-third of the seats reserved for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha must also be earmarked for women. Furthermore, one-third of the total seats filled through direct elections to the Lok Sabha will be reserved for female candidates.

Article 332A, which is another recent addition, deals with the reservation of seats for women in every state Legislative Assembly. It mandates that one-third of the seats designated for SCs and STs in state Legislative Assemblies must also be reserved for women. Moreover, one-third of the total seats filled through direct elections to these Legislative Assemblies will be reserved for women.