Union Minister for Law and Justice M. Veerappa Moily on Sunday said the Women's Reservation Bill would be tabled in the Lok Sabha when the budget session resumes on April 12.
The Bill, passed by the Rajya Sabha, would not be piloted in the Lok Sabha on March 15 or 16 as anticipated. The government first wanted to get the Finance Bill and the nuclear Bill approved before the House would be adjourned on March 16. But, the Bill would be tabled in the House in the budget session itself, Mr. Moily told journalists after launching development works at Gauribidanur in Chickballapur district of Karnataka.
In view of the opposition to the women's Bill from the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and a section of the Janata Dal (United), the government had decided to have wider consultations on the issue. Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee would hold meetings with political parties in this regard.
As the principal opposition, the BJP, and other parties had fully backed the Bill, the government was confident it would be passed with a thumping majority in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Moily said.
The Minister said amending the Constitution for providing 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies was necessary to ensure inclusive growth.
