Page 153 - Constitution

70 Years of Indian

Constitution

The Constitution of India granted to Indian
e, in India took the lead and the founding fathers
of our constitution following the principles of women the right to vote and be elected
W 'dignity and worth of the human person' and and thereby govern on par with that of men

'equal rights of men and women' laid down that 'the State - a right which was traditionally denied
shall not deny to any person equality before the law'. Thus, to women in even the most developing
the Constitution of India granted to Indian women the right countries of the world.
to vote and be elected and thereby govern on par with that
made seven recommendations.But the Bill could not be
of men - a right which was traditionally denied to women in
passed and lapsed with the dissolution of LokSabha.
even the most developing countries of the world. India in
Subsequently similar Bills were introduced in 1998 and 1999
this way set a leading example by providing to women equal
– all of which lapsed after the dissolution of the respective
participation in politics right at the time of independence.
LokSabha’s. In 2008 the Bill was gain introduced in Rajya
A major landmark in our Constitutional history was made
Sabha and was referred to the Standing Committee on
when the Constitution (Seventy -third Amendment) Act
Law and Justice and the Committee recommended that
1992 and the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment)
the Bill “be passed in Parliament and put in action without
1992 provided for reservation of not less than one third
further delay. The 2008 Bill incorporated five of the Geetha
of seats to women in Panchayats and the Municipalities.
Mukerjee Committee s recommendations These are (i)
It was a pioneering step as far as political empowerment
reservation for a period of 15 years; (ii) including sub-
of women is concerned. The concerns raised earlier that
reservation for Anglo Indians; (iii) including reservation in
women will be only proxy to men, after reservation was
cases where the state has less than three seats in Lok
given to women in Panchayats and Nagarpalikas, often
Sabha (or less than three seats for SCs/STs); (iv) including
leading to misuse of their position, have in time turned out
reservation for the Delhi assembly; and (v) changing “not
to be baseless and that the track record of most of the
less than one-third” to “as nearly as may be, one-third”.
elected women representatives has been satisfactory so
much certain states have enhanced the reservation to50
Two of the recommendations are not incorporated in the
percent.
2008 Bill. The first is for reserving seats in Rajya Sabha
Encouraged by the success of the reservation in
and Legislative Councils. The second is for sub-reservation
Panchayats and municipalities the Constitution (Eighty-first
for OBC women after the Constitution extends reservation
Amendment) Bill, 1996 was first tabled in the Lok Sabha
to OBCs.The Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha but lapsed
on September 12, 1996. A Joint Parliamentary Committee
because the LokSabha could not pass it. The Bill passed
chaired by Geeta Mukherjee examined the 1996 Bill and
by Rajya Sabha could not be passed by Lok Sabha and

70 Years of Indian Constitution 153