Women's quota bill report may be tabled in parliament

New Delhi, Dec 2 : The standing committee looking into a bill that seeks to set apart 33 percent legislative seats for women, may submit its report in the ongoing session of parliament, official sources said Wednesday.

Congress MP Jayanti Natarajan, who heads the reconstituted standing committee, is keen on early finalisation of the report but some members want more consultations, the sources said.

The Standing Committee on Law and Justice, Personnel and Public Grievances is looking into the Women's Reservation Bill, 2008, which was introduced in the Rajya Sabha last year. The bill had earlier thrice lapsed in the Lok Sabha due to lack of political consensus.

The sources said the committee was trying to reach a political consensus on the contentious bill, which needs a constitutional amendment for enactment.

While the Congress, the BJP and the Left parties support the bill, the Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have reservations over the provisions. The RJD has demanded sub-quota for minorities and backward classes within the 33 percent quota for women.

Sources said that some members of the committee are keen to take more views from states as part of the consultation process.

Law Minister Veerappa Moily had last month said that the government will work towards the passage of the bill after getting the report of the standing committee.