S Supongmeren Jamir, Member of Parliament, has raised concern in the House over the proposed linkage between the delimitation process and the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023, cautioning that the two should not be procedurally tied in a manner that could delay the rollout of women’s reservation in legislative bodies.
Jamir said that while he supports the objective of ensuring adequate representation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies, the implementation of the constitutional amendment should not be subjected to additional procedural conditions such as delimitation.
He maintained that the Women’s Reservation Act must be implemented “in both letter and spirit without unnecessary postponement.”
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Referring to constitutional provisions under Articles 82 and 170(3), Jamir noted that delimitation is scheduled to be undertaken only after the publication of the first Census figures post-2026. He cautioned against any premature attempt to link delimitation with the implementation timeline of the reservation law, saying it raises constitutional and procedural concerns.
With specific reference to the North Eastern region, including Nagaland, he said existing political understandings and agreements, including the Framework Agreement and Agreed Position with the Government of India, must be taken into account before any changes are made to parliamentary representation.
Jamir observed that any legislative process must ensure that no region or community is subjected to injustice, adding that concerns over population-to-representation balance must be addressed with fairness.
He further said delays in operationalising the Women’s Reservation Act reflect a lack of urgency despite the legislation already being passed, stressing that reforms of such national importance should not remain in uncertainty.
Jamir urged authorities to reconsider the present approach and called for the proposal to be either withdrawn or revised after comprehensive consultation and examination of all relevant aspects.
