Bill to extend women’s reservation law to J-K introduced in Lok Sabha

SRINAGAR — A bill to extend the provisions of the women’s reservation law to Jammu and Kashmir was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

As per details available with the news agency KNS, the bills introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai were the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.

The bill seeks to enable greater representation and participation of women as public representatives in law-making processes in the legislative assemblies of Jammu and Kashmir.

Officially known as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, the women’s reservation law seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The law will take some time before being implemented as the next census and the subsequent delimitation exercise — redrawing of Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies — will ascertain the particular seats being earmarked for women.

The quota for women in the Lok Sabha and assemblies will continue for 15 years and Parliament can later extend the benefit period.