Bill reserves one-third of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly seats for women

It aims to enable greater representation and participation of women in the law-making process.

Who it concerns: The Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, specifically regarding the reservation of seats for women and women belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.

What the bill does

• Inserts new sections 14A and 14B into the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
• Reserves seats for women in the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Reserves one-third of the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes for women belonging to those groups.
• Reserves one-third of the total number of seats filled by direct election for women.
• Reservation takes effect after a delimitation exercise following the first census after the Act's commencement.
• The reservation period is fifteen years from commencement, unless continued by Parliament.
• Rotation of reserved seats will take effect after a subsequent delimitation exercise determined by Parliament.
• Provisions do not affect representation until the dissolution of the then-existing Legislative Assembly.

Also in the document

• The Bill is introduced in consequence of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, which paved the way for similar reservations in other legislatures.
• The Act comes into force on a date appointed by the Central Government via notification in the Official Gazette.