New Delhi, April 17
As Lok Sabha proceedings resumed on Friday (April 17, 2026), Opposition members questioned the government’s decision to introduce a Bill amending the 2023 women’s reservation law before the principal Act had come into force. Soon after parliamentary papers were laid, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal pointed to a law ministry notification issued late last night around 10 pm, which brought the 2023 women’s reservation law into effect from April 16—hours after the amendment Bill had already been introduced and debated in the House.
“We are witnessing an extraordinary constitutional anomaly unfold before our eyes. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam passed in September 2023 has come into force with being published in the Gazette only at 9.55pm last night. It is shocking that the Government brought amendments to a Constitutional provision that was not even published in the Gazette,” Venugopal said. He further said that this shows the Government’s unprepared and lackadaisical approach to serious lawmaking. “This is also yet another evidence that the treasury benches look at Parliament as no more than a rubber stamp, not bothered about the procedures and protocol necessary for a fair legislative process.”
Opposition members sought clarification from Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who was present in the Lok Sabha. An official earlier explained that the law had to be brought into force first, as the proposed amendment could not have taken effect otherwise. The Constitution Amendment Bill had been passed into law but had not become part of the Constitution since the government had not brought it into force. An official explained that if a law is not enforced, its proposed amendment cannot be implemented. Therefore, it was notified with effect from April 16.
