Question : Women Reservation Bill

(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to hold consultations with major political parties and other stakeholders on Women‘s Reservation Bill to build consensus, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b) whether the Government has taken any other steps to bring this bill in Parliament, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether it is a practice that the Government hold consultations for all the legislative drafts to build consensus before introducing them in Parliament; and
(d) if so, the details thereof including the reasons for bringing many legislations without the consensus of major political parties?

THE MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (d) : Gender justice is an important commitment of the Government. The issue involved needs careful consideration on the basis of the consensus among all political parties before a Bill for amendment in the Constitution is brought before Parliament.
In the past three Bills were introduced in the Parliament on the said subject which lapsed due to one reason or the other.
As per Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy document, all the draft legislations are to be published/ placed in public domain in such manner as specified by the Department/Ministry concerned for pre-legislation consultation.

However, an exception has been carved out in the document that if the Department/Ministry concerned is of the view that it is not feasible or desirable to hold pre-legislative consultation, it may record the reasons in the note for the Cabinet
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