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The Women's Reservation Bill, which provides for 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies for 15 years, may not be introduced in the immediate future.
The government today informed Rajya Sabha that the issue needs "deep study and careful consideration on the basis of consensus among all political parties before a bill for amendment of the Constitution is brought before Parliament".
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply that it has been the endeavour of the government to provide for the reservation of one-third seats for women in Lok Sabha and the state legislative Assemblies.
The 15th Lok Sabha could not pass the bill and the Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, which was pending in the lower House since 2010, lapsed following its dissolution.
As per the law, any bill pending in Lok Sabha lapses with the dissolution of the House. Bills pending in Rajya Sabha are put in the "live register" and remain pending.
The 18-year journey of the Women's Reservation Bill has been marked by high drama and roadblocks in each outing in Parliament before the historic measure cleared the first legislative hurdle in March 2010, when Rajya Sabha passed it during a sitting which saw marshals being used.
