Question : CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT

(a) whether the Government initiated action to bring out an Act of Parliament for effective implementation of the provisions of Article 15(4) and 16(4) in the year 1993, as recommended by Dr. Ambedkar Birth Centenary Committee, which is also being reiterated by the Forum of SC/ST Parliamentarians through Memoranda dated 17.12.1996, 1.9.1997 and 23.7.1998, submitted to Prime Minister and again endorsed in the SC/ST MPs convention held during December, 1999; and

(b) if so, the progress achieved in this regard since 1993?

THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF ATOMIC ENERGY AND SPACE. (SMT.VASUNDHARA RAJE)

(a)&(b): Government examined a proposal to bring out an Act on reservation in services. In view of the fact that the executive instructions issued by the Government on the subject have the force of law and the executive instructions have the advantage of flexibility to meet the emerging needs which cannot always be provided by legislative enactment, it is not considered appropriate to pass a legislation in the matter.