The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed two bills extending extend the provisions of the women’s reservation law to the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry.

After the day-long discussion Lok Sabha passed The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill- 2023 to provide 33% reservation for women in J&K assembly.

The bill seeks to provide 33% reservation for women in the assemblies of Jammu & Kashmir and Puducherry.

Earlier, in the day Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.

“Consequent to the enactment of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, similar provisions for providing reservation for women in the Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are also required to be made by Parliament by amending the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019,” Home Minister Amit Shah said in the statement of object and reasons.

The provisions for providing reservation for women in the Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Puducherry are also required to be made by Parliament by amending the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, he said.

The two bills seek to enable greater representation and participation of women as public representatives in law-making processes in the legislative assemblies of Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir.

The women’s reservation will come into effect only after an exercise of delimitation is undertaken following the conduct of the next census. The women’s reservation will be in operation for a period of 15 years from its commencement.

During a special session of Parliament in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described the law as “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam”.

The Constitution amendment bill was passed by the Lok Sabha with near unanimity and the Rajya Sabha with unanimity.

The law will take some time before being implemented as the next census and the subsequent delimitation exercise — redrawing of Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies — will ascertain the particular seats being earmarked for women.

The quota for women in the Lok Sabha and assemblies will continue for 15 years and Parliament can later extend the benefit period.