Pendency of the Women's Reservation Bill: A Critical Analysis B. Namita Varshini Legal Article Sat, May 13, 2023, at ,12:34 PM IntroductionWomen's empowerment is essential for achieving gender equality and promoting social justice in India. The Women's Reservation Bill is an initiative to advance the rights of women in politics. It proposes to amend the Constitution of India to set aside 33 percent of seats in the lower house of parliament and all state legislative assemblies for women. Despite being reintroduced, the bill has not yet been passed by the Lok Sabha.Description Of The IssueThe Women's Reservation Bill (2008) has been languishing in Parliament for the longest amount of time, with Congress and BJP both saying they will uphold it if they win the election in 2019. This is not the first time that political parties have stated their intention to work towards the passage of this measure, but it has been a promise made by both parties in their manifestos. The Women's Reservation Bill was drafted ten years ago to increase the representation of women in government. However, a predominantly male parliament has failed to enact it, leading to only 62 of the 543 members of the most recent Lok Sabha being female MPs. This is due to an oppressive gender hierarchy that ensures men have complete control over the work done by women in both the private and public spheres. This is why almost all political parties have a strong aversion to the idea of women holding political office.The Women's Reservation Bill is challenging the concept of gender-based compartmentalization of realms, resulting in an increasing number of women holding positions of power and decision-making authority, which has a direct impact on public life and poses a risk to the established order of things.AnalysisThe most important institutions in society are run by men, with the family, religion, media, legal system, educational institutions, armed forces, and the state being the pillars that support a patriarchal structure. Women have traditionally been excluded from the state's realm due to its masculine and territorial nature. This institutional set-up exposes a strongly gendered and patriarchal structural backdrop within which sovereign states exist. Gender roles must be deconstructed within political institutions, as they are run by men. Women's reservation is an issue that needs to be addressed quickly, and more female lawmakers and ministers must take an active role in working towards the advancement of women's rights. Women have first-hand knowledge of what it is like to be a victim of organized aggression and have traumatic experiences to relate to.The concept of the "personal is political" suggests that the politics surrounding a given form of oppression can only be explained by those who have directly experienced it. Women are now seeking the opportunity to represent themselves, but it will be difficult to get the WRB passed in the Lok Sabha due to hegemonic masculinity. The passage of the Women's Rights Bill (WRB) is still a dream, but there are steps being taken to increase the number of women serving in parliament. The Trinamool Congress and Biju Janata Dal have both nominated women for 17 of their 42 parliamentary seats, making them one of the most progressive political parties in the country. We hope this is the start of a new age in which political power hegemony will be broken.ConclusionIn conclusion, the Women's Reservation Bill is necessary for a more egalitarian & gender-just society, but it has not yet been passed out of the Lower House of Parliament. Only if the current government, which holds a majority in Lok Sabha, votes in favour of the legislation with their complete backing will it be able to get through the chamber. There is still hope that the bill will be passed in Lok Sabha in the not-too-distant future if the current government takes steps towards its upliftment.References Shrivastava, M. K., Women's Reservation Bill: A Critical Analysis of the Legislative Proposal, J.Leg.Stud.Res. , 1-9 (2013). Bidyut Chakrabarty, Indian Politics and Society Since Independence: Events, Processes and Ideology 68-75 (Taylor & Francis, 2008). LK Richter, "Exploring theories of female leadership in South and Southeast Asia" 16 Pacific Affairs 139 (1990). Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Democracy and Constitutionalism in India: A Study of the Basic Structure Doctrine 125-131 (OUP India, 2010). C Spary, "Female political leadership in India" 7 Journal of Indian Law Institute 14 (2007). Here’s Why The Women’s Reservation Bill Is A ‘Matter Of Right, Not Favour’, available at: https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2019/04/womens-reservation-bill-a-necessity/ (last visited on May. 04, 2023).