Brinda to study Women's Reservation Bill

New Delhi, May 20: Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat has been inducted into a key Parliamentary panel to study measures related to the Women's Reservations Bill, which was re-introduced in Parliament last month during the Budget Session.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice, headed by senior Congress Member of Parliament E M Sudarsana Natchiappan has asked political parties to give their opinion on the issue by June 10. Karat who spearheaded the campaign for the passing of the Women's Reservation Bill along with some other women leaders will be the third woman member after Najma Heptulla (Bharatiya Janata Party) and Prabha Thakur (Congress).

The Committee will meet on May 27 for the first time after the Bill was referred to it on the last day of the Budget session of Parliament.

"If the Committee agrees, we will be meeting every Tuesday in June to complete the task," Natchiappan said.

The Committee is expected to give its report within three months.

The panel chief said he is also addressing leaders of national and regional political parties to give their opinion in a written format by June 10 and appear before the Committee on June 17 and 18.

He said the Committee is willing to invite suggestions from the public on the issue.

ANI