Uttarakhand Women Reservation Bill

January 11, 2023

Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh has approved a bill providing 30% horizontal reservation for domiciled women citizens of the state in public services and posts. The bill, known as the Uttarakhand Public Services (Horizontal Reservation for Women) Bill 2022, was passed by the Uttarakhand assembly during the winter session on November 30. This move is a significant step forward in ensuring gender equality and social justice in the state’s government jobs.

Reservation for Women

The bill provides for 20% horizontal reservation for direct recruitment in public services and posts in the vacancies to be recruited until July 24, 2006. After that, 30% horizontal reservation will be given in favor of the women candidates permanently domiciled in Uttarakhand. The bill cites the need for reservation for women as a way to ensure “social justice, equality of opportunity, improvement in living standards.”

Need for the Bill

The bill was introduced following developments in the Uttarakhand high court, where the women reservation was challenged. On August 24, the high court had stayed the 2006 state government order regarding providing 30% reservation in state services to women having domicile of the state until further orders. The petitioners had argued that the state government had no power to provide domicile-based reservation as the Constitution of India allows reservation on the basis of domicile only by an act of parliament.

Cabinet Approval

On October 12, the state cabinet authorized Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to bring an ordinance on the issue of women’s reservation in the state government jobs. This move came after the high court ruling and was aimed at ensuring that the 30% reservation for women in state services would be implemented.

Reactions

The approval of the bill has been welcomed by various organizations and individuals working towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. The bill is seen as a positive step towards ensuring gender equality and providing equal opportunities to women in the state. The reservation will give women more opportunities to participate in the workforce and contribute to the state’s economy.

In conclusion, the bill providing 30% horizontal reservation for domiciled women citizens of the state in public services and posts has been approved by Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh. The bill, which was passed by the Uttarakhand assembly during the winter session on November 30, is a significant step forward in ensuring gender equality and social justice in the state’s government jobs. The reservation will give women more opportunities to participate in the workforce and contribute to the state’s economy, which will ultimately improve the living standards of the citizens of Uttarakhand.

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