Intro
Retired Justice Nagamohan Das strongly urged the immediate implementation of the 33 percent legislative reservation for Indian women.
BENGALURU
Retired Justice Nagamohan Das strongly argued that a thirty-three percent reservation for women in legislative assemblies is absolutely crucial for the country’s progress and better governance. Speaking at a public meeting organized by the National Alliance for Women’s Reservation, the retired judge pointed out that while women enjoy reservation in local panchayats, these grassroot bodies only execute policies rather than draft actual laws. He highlighted that despite a thirty-five-year struggle, patriarchal mindsets continue to block the implementation of female quotas in main legislative chambers.
Justice Das emphasized that political power-sharing remains highly unequal because of a distinct lack of political will among male leaders. He urged the government not to delay the bill by unnecessarily linking it to complex issues like constituency delimitation or OBC sub-quotas, arguing that the basic thirty-three percent reservation should be introduced immediately without any complicated conditions.
Historical data paints a bleak picture of gender representation. In seventy-six years since independence, female representation in the Lok Sabha has never crossed fifteen percent, while state assemblies lag behind at under ten percent. Justice Das insisted that this historic injustice must be corrected, as no nation can truly succeed when half its population is excluded from making laws.
He explained that women naturally prioritize essential human needs like healthcare, food, education, and housing. Looking at globally successful nations, he noted that their rapid progress in science, education, and economy is a direct result of women participating equally alongside men. Prominent activists also attended the event supporting his call.