New Delhi: The Centre appears to have deferred plans to introduce contentious proposals related to delimitation and women’s reservation during the ongoing Parliament session, with the Cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday now cancelled.
The cancellation has fuelled speculation that the government may not seek Cabinet approval for the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bills before the Monsoon Session concludes on August 13.
Earlier, the announcement of a Cabinet meeting on the final day of the session had led to expectations that the government could clear the proposed amendments and introduce them in Parliament at the last minute.
Government opts for wider consultations
Sources indicate that the government has the numbers required to secure the special majority needed to pass a delimitation-related Constitutional Amendment Bill, which is linked to the implementation of women’s reservation. However, the government now appears to have decided to allow more time for consultations with stakeholders.
A Constitutional Amendment requires the support of two-thirds of the members present and voting in Parliament. The earlier version of the proposed legislation was defeated by the Opposition in April, according to the source material.
Opposition protests create hurdles
The government has also faced repeated disruptions during the Monsoon Session, with the Opposition demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the student protest issue.
The Opposition has also pushed the government to reconsider proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The government is now considering sending the proposed changes to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
The government has attempted to break the deadlock, including indicating that Shah was prepared to participate in a debate on the student issue and respond to Opposition concerns. However, Parliament has continued to face disruptions.
Delimitation may come later
For a revised Constitutional Amendment Bill to be introduced, any changes made following consultations would first have to receive Cabinet approval. With no Cabinet meeting currently scheduled before the Monsoon Session concludes on August 13, indications are that the delimitation proposal could be taken up at a later stage, potentially during a special session of Parliament.
The issue remains politically sensitive, particularly because any change in the allocation of parliamentary constituencies could have significant implications for the political representation of different regions.
The government could also choose to prorogue Parliament after the Monsoon Session, although the source material indicates that there is discussion over whether it may instead leave the session available to be reconvened if required.
