Panaji, April 10 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Friday that he was hopeful that the Women Reservation Act will be amended in the upcoming special sittings of the Parliament unanimously with the cooperation of all political parties.
Birla also said that the use of unparliamentary words and displaying of banners and placards are not allowed within the House and within the Parliament complex; and the language used should be in conformity with parliamentary traditions.
Asked about the amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', more commonly known as Women Reservation Act, the speaker said the law was the first to be passed in the new Parliament in September 2023 when all political parties had supported it and it was passed unanimously.
"Therefore, I am hopeful that the amendments to the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' would be done in the Parliament with everyone's cooperation unanimously," he said in response to a question by
The Budget Session of Parliament has been extended and a special three-day sitting of the House has been convened between April 16 to 18.
The Women Reservation Act will ensure an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816, of which 273 will be reserved for women.
The provision to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was brought by amending the Constitution in 2023, but it will come into effect after the completion of the delimitation exercise on the basis of 2027 Census. It is expected to come into force only in 2034 if the present law remains as it is and, therefore, the need to amend it for making it enforceable from 2029 general elections.
On the use of unparliamentary language on certain occasions in Parliament, the Speaker said the language used should always be in conformity with parliamentary traditions.
"Furthermore, banners and posters must not be brought inside. We have issued a bulletin for this, and I have personally appealed to all Members within Parliament, as well as to all political parties. It was discussed at the Business Advisory Committee meetings too that the use of banners, placards, unparliamentary language, and sloganeering is not befitting of a democracy," he said.
Birla said everyone has expressed their agreement on this point and efforts are being made to strictly curb the use of unparliamentary language, as well as the practice of bringing banners and posters into the House.
On the questions by some quarters about the timing of the three-day special sittings, the speaker said everyone is entitled to express their views but the responsibility for proposing the dates of a session rests with the government.
"The government has proposed the agenda for the April 16, 17 and 18th. Subsequently, we will convene a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee, which comprises representatives from all political parties, to engage in deliberations. This is the established procedure and this has been going on for a long time," he said.
Earlier, while delivering the valedictory address at the conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region West Zone (Zone VII) here, the speaker said greater participation of women would bring greater sensitivity to governance, making policymaking more people-centric and better aligned with societal needs.
He said women are already playing leadership roles across sectors and are contributing a fresh and constructive perspective to governance and development.
Highlighting the role of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence in strengthening public communication, Birla observed that these advancements are enabling greater citizen engagement in the democratic process.
He underlined that increased public participation leads to more meaningful and effective policymaking and at the same time, he cautioned that technology should not be used in ways that waste the valuable time of young people, but rather serve as a tool to enhance their skills and capacities.
He said the three states of CPA Zone VII -- Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa -- have placed strong emphasis on the development of coastal regions.
Birla highlighted that these states have demonstrated successful models of converting challenges into opportunities.
The speaker observed that Goa stands out as one of the world's most attractive tourist destinations, supported by its strong tradition of hospitality, while Gujarat and Maharashtra are also making significant strides in the tourism sector.
Birla informed that a total of 31 legislators shared their views and experiences, offering valuable learning opportunities for all participants.
He noted with pride that both formal and informal exchanges during the Conference facilitated the sharing of innovations and best practices.
He observed a strong emphasis on promoting healthy competition in trade, tourism, and innovation, with participants also focusing on adopting a positive approach to transform challenges into opportunities.