Standing committee for consensus on women reservation in Parl

Patna, Jul 31 (UNI) Parliamentary Standing Committee is in active consultation with all national and regional political parties to evolve a consensus for 33 per cent reservation of women in Parliament and also prepare a formula acceptable to them.

Chairman of the standing committee of Parliament on personnel, public grievances, Law and Justice E M Sudarsana Natchiappan told newspersons here that the committee had discussion with almost all political parties to evolve consensus among them for reservation of women in the Lok Sabha.

''Barring four political parties--RJD, JD(U), SP and PMK-- all favoured the passage of women reservation bill in Parliament in its original format which was presented in the Lok Sabha in 1998, 1999 and 2004,'' he said adding these parties had demanded provision of reservation to OBC and Minorities in the proposed quota of 33 per cent reservation for women in parliament.

Mr Natchiappan said in a bid to accommodate the views of the political parties favouring sub-quota for OBCs and Minorities, state legislatures might be urged to pass resolution for reservation in this regard and send the same to the Centre.

The Centre could prepare a bill on the basis of the various resolutions passed by the states and get it passed by the both Houses of Parliament, he added.

''The resoltuions may be passed by the states using the provision under section 243(D) of the constituion'', he said adding the Centre could take up the issue after the passeage of such resolution by the states under the article 330(A) of the constitution.

The full standing committee will meet in New Delhi tomorrow to take a decision on the views of the all political parties on reservation to women in Parliament.

UNI KKS KK DB1854