Lok Sabha okays bill to extend SC-ST quota in Parliament, Assemblies

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday unanimously passed the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2019, to extend reservation in the LS and assemblies to people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for another 10 years. However, the government’s decision not to extend the reservation to nominated members of the Anglo-Indian community to the LS and some state assemblies drew the ire of opposition parties. Several members insisted the community should continue to enjoy the privilege.

352 members voted in favour and none against the bill which amended Article 334 of the Constitution which provided two nominated seats for Anglo-Indians in the Lok Sabha and certain state assemblies. Opposition MPs said that the NDA regime had cancelled quota for the micro minority community even as law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said “the doors are not shut” and the matter to grant Anglo-Indians nomination would be considered. Congress MP Hibi Eden filed a notice for breach of privilege against Prasad by saying the law minister misled the Lok Sabha by stating India currently has only 296 Anglo Indians whereas “the total population of Anglo Indian community as on 2017 was 3,47,000. Kerala alone accounts for 80,000 Anglo Indians as on 2017.”