Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moves Women's Reservation Bill in Rajya Sabha

Moving the bill in the Upper house of the Parliament, Arjun Ram Meghwal said "Through the Constitutional Amendment Bill that I have brought today, a section will inserted in Article 330, Article 332 and Article 334. Through these, 1/3rd of the seats will be reserved in Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies of the country. This is a major step."

The 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' is the first bill passed by Lok Sabha during the special session after it shifted to the new Parliament building on Tuesday.

The Bill was passed following division with 454 members voting in favour of the legislation and two against it on the motion for the passage moved by Meghwal. The amendments moved by opposition members were negative and there was also voting on clauses of the bill.

The division was carried out through the distribution of slips.

Meghwal said history was being made with the passage of the bill.

Rejecting the oppositions criticism about the delay in the implementation of provisions of the Bill, Meghwal said that the bill ensures transparency.

The bill was passed after a day-long debate in which several leaders across party lines put forth their views. The Congress was represented by its Parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi who urged the government to look into OBC and SC quota for women in the bill.

The Rajya Sabha had earlier passed the Womens Reservation Bill in 2010 during the Congress-led UPA government but it was not taken up in the Lok Sabha and subsequently lapsed in the lower House of Parliament. (ANI)