Congress Demands Immediate Implementation of Women's Reservation Law, Questions Census and Delimitation Link

The Congress has intensified its criticism of the central government over the delay in implementing the Women's Reservation Act, demanding the immediate notification of the law and questioning its linkage with the census and delimitation exercise.

The women's reservation law was passed by Parliament and received presidential assent in September 2023. However, Congress argues that more than two and a half years later, the legislation has still not been implemented.

Congress Questions Delay in Women's Reservation

The party has raised concerns over the government's decision to make the implementation of women's reservation dependent on the completion of the census and delimitation process.

Congress has argued that this could significantly delay the rollout of the law, potentially pushing its implementation until at least 2034.

During a recent meeting, the party passed a resolution demanding that the government immediately notify and implement the women's reservation provisions.

What Congress Is Demanding

Congress has proposed that the number of Lok Sabha seats should remain frozen at the current strength of 543.

The party has demanded that one-third of these seats should be reserved for women without waiting for the completion of the census and delimitation exercise.

The demand comes amid a broader political debate over when the Women's Reservation Act will become operational and whether its implementation should remain tied to future demographic and electoral restructuring.

Women's Reservation Act Passed in 2023

The legislation, popularly known as the Women's Reservation Bill, provides for one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

However, its implementation has been linked to the first census conducted after the law's enactment and a subsequent delimitation exercise.

Congress has questioned this framework, arguing that a law passed by Parliament and granted presidential assent should not face an indefinite delay before becoming operational.

The issue is now emerging as another major point of political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP-led central government, with the opposition party demanding that women receive representation in legislatures without waiting for future electoral exercises.