Parliament’s Budget Session likely to be curtailed, may reconvene after state polls

The ongoing Parliament session may be curtailed ahead of schedule, with the government unlikely to immediately introduce a Bill to expand Lok Sabha seats to 816 for implementing women’s reservation, reports said. However, the session is not expected to be prorogued, leaving open the option of reconvening it after the upcoming round of assembly elections.

A PTI report indicated there is little chance of the government tabling a Constitution Amendment Bill to tweak the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam — the women’s reservation law — in the next few days. There was also no proposal till March 24 evening to place the draft bill before the Union Cabinet, which is scheduled to meet today.

“There is a need for further consultations with all political parties before finalising the schedule for amending the women’s reservation law,” PTI quoted a source.
On March 23, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held discussions with some NDA constituents and select non-Congress opposition floor leaders. However, consultations with the Congress and the Trinamool Congress are yet to take place.

Amid indications of an early adjournment, sources said Parliament could be adjourned before its scheduled April 2 end date. The session, however, will not be prorogued, allowing the government to reconvene it later.

The government is learnt to be considering reconvening the session after assembly elections to five states, the results of which will be declared on May 4. There has been no official confirmation on this so far.

The provision for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was enacted through a constitutional amendment in 2023, but will come into force only after the delimitation exercise is completed.

As per current proposals, the Lok Sabha’s strength would increase from 543 to 816 seats, with 273 reserved for women. The reservation will also apply within quotas for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The delimitation exercise is expected to be based on the 2011 Census. A similar process will be undertaken for state assemblies, with seats reserved on a pro-rata basis.

The proposed changes require both a Constitution amendment to modify the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and a separate law to amend the Delimitation Act. If approved, the new provisions are expected to come into force by March 31, 2029, enabling implementation in the subsequent Lok Sabha and select state assembly elections.

President Droupadi Murmu had given assent to the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act — the Nari Shakti Vandan law — in September 2023.