Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Authority Of The Election Commission To Invite Opinion Of All The ... on 26 April, 2000
Regarding authority of the Election Commission to invite opinion of all the political parties regarding Women's Reservation Bill.
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN (CHIRAYINKIL): Sir, the Women’s Reservation Bill is before the House. Now, it is reported that the Election Commission has asked the opinion of all the political parties regarding Women’s Reservation Bill. I understand the House alone is the competent authority to effect an amendment. What is the authority of the Election Commission to ask the political parties to give their views? He has also suggested that 15 per cent reservation will be all right and that should be made by an amendment in the Representation of People Act. The Election Commission is a constitutional authority, but it is not mandated for constitutional amendment. It has no power to make an amendment to the existing law. It is only meant for conducting a fair and reasonable election and not to ask the political parties to give their views to it regarding women’s representation, whether we agree with 15 per cent reservation or not. What is the authority of the Election Commission to ask the political parties to give an opinion on this matter which the House is ceased of? The Bill is before this House. My learned friend, the hon. Minister of Law may kindly hear. The hon. Minister of Law is present here. … (Interruptions)
SHRI P.C. THOMAS : The hon. Minister of Law should say something on this important matter. … (Interruptions)
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : The hon. Minister of Law is sitting here. I seek his opinion whether the Election Commission is entitled to suggest an amendment with regard to the Women’s Reservation Bill. He has asked the political parties to give their views. My friend is an eminent lawyer. He must tell us whether the Chief Election Commission is empowered to make amendments or suggest amendments to the Constitution. Please make your comments. … (Interruptions)
SHRI VAIKO (SIVAKASI): Sir, I do support and associate with the views expressed by Shri Varkala Radhakrishnan. The Chief Election Commissioner is going out of his bounds. I associate with the views expressed by Shri Radhakrishnan. I fully support him. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: You are also associating with it. I will call you. I have given the floor to Shrimati Krishna Bose.
… (Interruptions)
SHRIMATI KRISHNA BOSE (JADAVPUR): May I have the attention of all my male colleagues to it? I do not know why some of my colleagues are so agitated about it. The Election Commission has not proposed any amendment or anything. They have come up with a new proposal.
Sir, I am telling you, in 1996 I stood at the same place where I am standing now. I asked in the Zero Hour then as to when the Women’s Reservation Bill would come. That was 11th Lok Sabha and this is 13th Lok Sabha. The Bill has been in hibernation. Some alternative proposal has come up. We should all be calm about it. We should discuss. If there is a voting today, we shall all vote for the Women Reservation Bill. If there are insurmountable hurdles to it…… (Interruptions) There is no way why we should not listen to what the Election Commission has to say. I have been demanding for quite some time that all the political parties should nominate more women Members when they choose their candidates. That would be the best way. In that case, some of the flaws of the other Bills will not be there. … (Interruptions) May I finish within one minute? … (Interruptions)
SHRI VAIKO : We are all for Women Reservation Bill. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: All right. Shri Vaiko, let her complete.
… (Interruptions)
SHRIMATI KRISHNA BOSE : Please let me finish. … (Interruptions) Please give me a hearing. … (Interruptions)
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : I am for women’s reservation. … (Interruptions)
SHRI VAIKO : We are all for women’s reservation. … (Interruptions) When the hon. Minister of Law proposes a constitutional amendment, let him bring it. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Shri Vaiko, let her complete. You have already said about it.
… (Interruptions)
SHRIMATI KRISHNA BOSE : The flaws of the other proposed Bills will not be there. By rotation of seats our male colleagues need not lose their seats. … (Interruptions) The proposed inside quota will not be there. The Election Commission has said that in order to retain their registration, the political parties must put up an agreed number of women candidates. I think, this is a very good proposal. I call upon the Government and the Opposition Parties to come in support of this Bill. … (Interruptions)
श्री रामजी लाल सुमन (फिरोजाबाद) : उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, मेरे संसदीय क्षेत्र में १२ लोग मरे हैं, मैंने नोटिस भी दिया है। यह इतना गम्भीर मामला है क…( व्यवधान)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: If you are standing like this, you will not get the chance. Let her complete. Everybody will get the chance. You cannot force me to call you first.
… (Interruptions)
SHRIMATI KRISHNA BOSE : The point is: we can do it and the Election Commission can do it.
Sir, I have a Private Members’ Bill on this. … (Interruptions) We should have it not through the Election Commission, but let us all sit together to give a hearing to what the Chief Election Commissioner has said. It is a very good suggestion.… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Shrimati Bose, please conclude.
SHRIMATI KRISHNA BOSE : So, I would like you and all the Opposition Parties to come up and support the Election Commission’s proposal. … (Interruptions)
कुमारी उमा भारती (भोपाल) : माननीय उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, श्रीमती कृष्णा बोस जी ने जो बात उठाई है, उसमें थोड़ा सा अपनी तरफ से इजाफा करते हुए मैं सिर्फ दो वाक्य में यह कहना चाहती हूं कि हमें सरकार की नीयत पर जरा भी शंका नहीं है। लेकिन हम यह चाहते हैं कि इस बजट सत्र के समारोह के पूर्व महिला आरक्षण बिल बहस में तो कम से कम सदन में आ जाना चाहिए, ताकि सदन का अभिमत स्पष्ट हो सके। …( व्यवधान)
श्री शंकर प्रसाद जायसवाल (वाराणसी) : मैं तीन दिन से नोटिस दे रहा हूं। वाराणसी में…( व्यवधान)
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : आप तो सीनियर मैम्बर हैं। आपको चांस मिलेगा। This is not the way.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nothing will go on record.
(Interruptions) * MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: You will get the chance. You cannot impose like this. I am calling the names according to the list.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: If you impose like this, you will get the chance only at the end. मैं तो सारे के सारे सदस्यों को चांस देना चाहता हूं इसलिए आपको सहयोग करना चाहिए। मैंने अब श्री प्रभुनाथ सिंह को बुलाया है। आप संक्षेप में मामला उठाएं, ताकि सबको चांस मिल सके।