Supreme Court seeks Centre’s response on plea to implement Women’s Reservation Act without delimitation

The Supreme Court of India has sought a response from the Central government on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections without waiting for a fresh delimitation exercise. The plea argues that the reservation law should be operationalised based on previous census data, rather than being deferred indefinitely until a post-2026 Census and delimitation exercise. This development assumes significance in light of parliament's recent rejection of a bill aimed at expanding the strength of the Lok Sabha and enabling a nationwide delimitation exercise.

The Supreme Court has intervened in a matter related to the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act, seeking the Central government's response on a PIL. The plea, which assumes significance in light of recent parliamentary developments, seeks to operationalise the reservation law without waiting for a fresh delimitation exercise. This raises important questions about the timing and implementation of the Act.

The Women's Reservation Act was enacted through the Constitution (128th Amendment) Act, 2023, which reserves one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women. However, its implementation has been tied to the first Census conducted after the Act came into force and the delimitation exercise that follows. The plea argues that waiting indefinitely for these processes could deprive women of the benefit of reservation even in the 2029 general elections.

The recent rejection of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to expand the strength of the Lok Sabha and enable a nationwide delimitation exercise, has significant implications for the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act. The withdrawal of the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territory Reorganisation Bill, 2026, further underscores the complexity of this issue. The Supreme Court's intervention in this matter is likely to have a significant impact on the future of the Women's Reservation Act.

The Supreme Court's decision to seek a response from the Central government on the PIL seeking the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act without waiting for a fresh delimitation exercise is a significant development. Practitioners should closely watch this matter, as it has the potential to impact the timing and implementation of the Act. The outcome of this matter will likely have far-reaching implications for the representation of women in Indian politics.