LS Approves Extension of SC, ST Reservation on Legislatures

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday accorded approval to a Constitutional Amendment Bill extending reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Parliament and State Assemblies for another 10 years.

The Constitution (109th Amendment) Bill 2009 which was adopted by the Rajya Sabha on Monday further extends the practice of nominating members of the Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies by another 10 years.

The Bill, moved by Law Minister Veerappa Moily was passed in a division vote with 385 of the members present voting for, one against and one abstaining.

While noting that inclusive politics would result in the entry of SCs and STs onto the mainstream in less than ten years, Moily informed the House that out of 543 Lok Sabha seats, 79 have been reserved for SCs and 42 for STs.

Of the total 3,961 assembly seats in the country, 543 are reserved for SCs and 527 for STs, he said.