New Delhi: Following is the chronology of
developments related to Women's Reservation Bill:
1974: The issue of women's representation in Parliament
first raised in a report submitted to the Ministry of
Education and Social Welfare by a Committee on Status of Women
in India.
Highlighting the low number of women in political bodies,
the report recommends that seats be reserved for women in
panchayats and municipal bodies.
1993: The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments reserve
one-third of seats for women in panchayats and municipal
bodies.
September 12, 1996: Women's Reservation Bill first
introduced in parliament by H D Deve Gowda's government as
81st Constitution Amendment Bill. Soon after, Gowda's
government becomes a minority and 11th Lok Sabha dissolved.
The Bill is referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee
chaired by CPI MP Geeta Mukherjee which presents its report to
the Lok Sabha on December 9, 1996.
June 26, 1998: The bill reintroduced by the National
Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the 12th Lok Sabha as
the 84th Constitution Amendment Bill.
This time too, the bill lapses as 12th Lok Sabha is
dissolved prematurely with the Vajpayee government being
reduced to a minority.
November 22, 1999: The bill is once again introduced by
the NDA government in the 13th Lok Sabha. But the government
again fails to gather consensus on the issue.
The NDA government brought the bill to the Lok Sabha
twice in 2002 and 2003 but could never get it passed even
though the Congress and the Left, constituting a majority, had
assured NDA of their support.
May 2004: After coming to power, the United Progressive
Alliance (UPA) government announces its intention to pass the
bill as part of its commitments in the Common Minimum
Programme (CMP).
May 6, 2008: The Bill is introduced in Rajya Sabha and
referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice.
December 17, 2009: The Standing Committee presents its
report and the bill is tabled in both Houses of Parliament
amid protests by Samajwadi Party, JD (U) and RJD.
February 22, 2010: In her address to Parliament,
President Pratibha Patil says the government is committed to
early passage of the bill.
February 25, 2010: Union Cabinet approves Women's
Reservation Bill.
March 8, 2010: Bill moved in Rajya Sabha, but voting on
it deferred after unruly scenes and threats of withdrawal
support to the UPA government by SP and RJD.
March 9, 2010: Women's Reservation Bill passed by Rajya
Sabha with overwhelming majority.
-PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 09, 2010, 22:32