Keywords:- reservation, petition , reply, Bill
The division bench comprising of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti while hearing the plea of National Federation Of Women to reintroduce the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha , also known as the Constitution ( One Hundred and Eighth Amendment )Bill,2008 which sought to introduce 33 % reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies questioned the Central Government on their lackadaisical attitude towards filing a reply for the petition.
The Central Government did not file a response despite being given time till November last year to submit its counter affidavit.
The Bench chided the Centre’s reluctance in filing the reply and declared that this was an issue of paramount importance which needs to be tabled at the Lok Sabha . The Centre also claimed that the non introduction of the Bill is an arbitrary act which constitutes discrimination and emphasised upon the need for affirmative action to improve the dismal representation of women in the legislature . The petition has been considered as an issue of considerable issue by Justice Sanjiv Khanna who emphasised the need for empowerment of women across the country through the Bill.
Written by Parvati Arun , an intern under Legal Vidhiya
