NEW DELHI, April 14: As the government circulated bills related to women’s quota law and delimitation, the Congress on Tuesday said when the intent behind a bill is “mischievous” and the content of it is “devious”, the extent of damage to parliamentary democracy is enormous.
Lok Sabha seats will be increased to up to 850 from the current 543 to “operationalise” the women’s reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise to be carried out based on the last published census.
According to the draft Constitution amendment bill, which will be introduced in the upcoming special sitting of Parliament, seats would also be increased in state and Union territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “When the intent behind a Bill is mischievous, and the content of it is devious, the extent of damage to parliamentary democracy is enormous.” The seats reserved for women in Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies “shall be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a state or Union territory,” the bill circulated among Lok Sabha members said.
Besides other provisions, the bill seeks to amend Article 81 of the Constitution. (PTI)
