Tag: Women Empowerment

Women’s reservation bill introduced, PM says September 19 ‘historic day’

Women’s Reservation Bill that seeks to provide 33 per cent quota for women in Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.

The Women’s Reservation Bill that seeks to provide 33 per cent quota for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies was introduced in the Lok Sabha today in the ongoing special session of Parliament. Calling September 19 a “historic day”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the Opposition to unanimously pass the Bill – ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ – that has been hanging for nearly three decades.

“On this historic occasion in the new Parliament building, as the first proceeding of the House, the beginning of all the Parliamentarians opening gateways for women power is being done with this crucial decision,” Prime Minister Modi said in Lok Sabha.

PM Modi announced that his government is “bringing an important constitutional amendment bill”, taking forward “our resolve of women-led development”

“Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ will further empower our democracy,” said PM Modi. “There have been many debates in the past regarding women’s reservation… and I appeal to lawmakers to support the bill,” the Prime Minister said.

“We want more and more women to join the development process of the country,” he added, before Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal presented the bill to lawmakers.

Women account for almost half of the country’s 950 million registered voters but make for only 15% of parliament and about 10% of state legislatures.

The bill, once approved, will see the number of women MPs in Lok Sabha go up to 181 from the current 82, Meghwal said.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury credited his party for the women’s quota bill. “Former Congress governments under Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao, and Manmohan Singh had consistently tried to pass the bill to provide reservation for women,” he said.

Chowdhury also claimed that the Women’s Reservation Bill, which was passed in the Rajya Sabha during the Congress regime under Manmohan Singh, was still pending.

However, Union Home Minister Amit Shah countered the claim by stating that the bill had already lapsed.

WOMEN’S RESERVATION BILL – HIGHLIGHTS

The, Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeks to introduce three new articles and one new clause in the Constitution.

1. New clause in 239AA: Seats shall be reserved for women in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, 1/3rd of the seats reserved for SCs shall be reserved for women, 1/3rd of total number of seats to be filled by direct elections shall be reserved for women through law determined by parliament

2. New Article – 330A: Reservation for women in Lok Sabha – 1/3rd of seats reserved for SCs and STs shall be reserved for women, 1/3rd of total seats to be filled by direct elections to the Lok Sabha shall be reserved for women

3. New Article – 332A: Reserved seats for women in every state Legislative Assembly, 1/3rd of seats reserved for SCs and STs shall be reserved for women, 1/3rd of total seats to be filled by direct elections to the LA shall be reserved for women

4. New article – 334A: Reservation shall come into effect after the delimitation is undertaken after the relevant figures for the first census have been published. Rotation of seats for women shall take effect after each subsequent exercise of delimitation

A bill to provide reservation for women in Parliament and assemblies were first introduced in the Lok Sabha in 1996 by the Deve Gowda-led United Front government. It failed to get the approval of the House and was referred to a joint parliamentary committee which submitted its report to the Lok Sabha in December 1996. But the Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/government-lists-womens-reservation-bill-for-introduction-in-lok-sabha-2437645-2023-09-19

I permit women law clerks to work from home when they suffer from menstrual cramps: CJI DY Chandrachud

The CJI further advised the graduating students to explore all avenues in law as it will not disadvantage them in their careers.

Chief Justic of India DY Chandrachud

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud today spoke about how he permits women law clerks to work from home when they experience health issues associated with menstruation.

The CJI said that he permits the women law clerks to work from home when they complain of menstrual cramps.

“Last year, four law clerks out of five were women. It is common for them to call me up and say that, ‘Sir I have menstrual cramps’. I tell them, ‘Please work from home and take care of your health’. We have also provided sanitary napkins dispensers in the female washrooms in the Supreme Court of India,” he said.

The CJI was speaking at the 31st annual convocation of the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru.

The judge also touched upon the dilemma faced by law graduates regarding the career path they have to choose.

He suggested that the students should not rush to decide on one particular avenue in law, and instead explore all possible avenues within the field.

“Life is long and a few years exploring the possibility and wonders of the law will not disadvantage you. Each job will give you a skill which is transferable to another job. Always ask what did you leave the world behind with, may be a bit better”, the judge said.

Live in the present, he underlined.

“Embrace the role with all your heart. Live in the present and if you are dissatisfied, you can always choose another profession,” the judge said.

The CJI ended his speech on an encouraging and hopeful note using ‘trendy phrases’ used by the present generation.

“I hear when things come to an end this generation calls it an OLTs – one last time. Now you will have many FTs – first times. The first time you speak to a client, first time you appear in court, first paychecks, first criticisms. May your FTs be as memorable as your OLTs,” the CJI said.

 

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/i-permit-women-law-clerks-work-from-home-suffer-menstrual-cramps-cji-dy-chandrachud

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