Voting on passage of women's reservation, delimitation Bills on Friday at 4 pm
New Delhi, April 16
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday informed the Lok Sabha that an extended discussion would be held on the three crucial Bills related to women's reservation and delimitation, with voting scheduled for Friday.
Addressing the House, Rijiju said, "The discussion will be held for 12 hours. The speaker should have the authority to extend the time for discussion. The voting on the bills will be done tomorrow."
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla subsequently clarified that the debate could go on for a longer duration if required, indicating flexibility in the schedule to accommodate detailed deliberations by members.
He said, "Discussion on these three bills will be held for 15-18 hours. Voting on these bills will be done at 4 p.m. tomorrow." He further assured that everyone will be given "appropriate time" to speak during the discussion.
The introduction of the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at enabling women's reservation and facilitating delimitation, was approved in the Lok Sabha on Thursday following a division of votes in the House. The development came after the Opposition pressed for a recorded vote, leading to a formal division process.
Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal rose in the House to table the Bill, marking a key step in the legislative process. The introduction follows an earlier round of voting in which Members of Parliament supported bringing the Bill forward for discussion.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Delimitation Bill 2026 and Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, were introduced.
Earlier, the Lok Sabha had voted in favour of introducing the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, after the Opposition demanded a division.
Following the use of vote slips, the distribution stood at 251 in support and 185 against, announced Speaker Om Birla, adding that it is subject to change.
The Lok Sabha typically relies on voice voting to pass motions; however, when the outcome is contested, a "division" is conducted. In such cases, the Automatic Vote Recorder system is used to register votes under "Ayes", "Noes", and "Abstain".
Subsequently, vote slips were also utilised during the proceedings after the division, with a total of 333 members casting their votes and no abstentions recorded in that round.
"If any member wishes to change the vote, they may call for voting through slips," the Lok Sabha Secretary General had earlier informed the House.
The Opposition had insisted on a division as the House took up voting on the introduction of the Women's Reservation Bill. The motion required a simple majority to be carried, and the voting process was conducted accordingly amid heightened political engagement.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see extended discussion time being given. Such important bills need proper debate, not rushed through. The delimitation part is crucial too for fair representation.
While I support women's reservation, I hope the implementation is done properly. Sometimes these bills get passed but actual change on the ground takes years. Fingers crossed.
Interesting to see the procedural details - division of votes, vote slips, the 251 to 185 split. Shows a healthy, if contentious, democratic process. The 15-18 hour debate sounds intense!
Reservation is needed, but merit should not be compromised. Hope qualified women come forward, not just relatives of existing politicians. The bill's success depends on that.
As a young woman from a small town, this gives me hope. More women in Parliament means issues like safety, education, and healthcare for women might finally get the priority they deserve. 💪
Respectfully, while the intent is good, I'm concerned about linking it with delimitation. Could this delay the actual implementation of women's reservation? The timeline seems unclear.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.