Law Minister Introduces Bill for ST Reservation in Goa Assembly

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to provide reservation for Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the Goa Legislative Assembly. The bill aims to rectify the current lack of ST reserved seats despite a significant population increase, as recorded in the 2011 census.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha aimed at providing reservation to Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the Goa Legislative Assembly.

Currently, the ST community has no reserved seats in the state's assembly. Named the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024, the legislation seeks to empower the census commissioner to officially notify the ST population in Goa. According to the bill, the 2011 census shows a significant increase in the ST population compared to the 2001 census.

The bill notes that the ST population in Goa, standing at 1,49,275, is considerably higher than the SC population of 25,449, yet no seats are reserved for STs. As the Election Commission currently has no power to allocate seats for SCs and STs before the next census, the bill introduces enabling provisions to address this issue.

The proposed legislation, once enacted, will require the Election Commission to amend the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008, making way for ST reservation in the 40-member Goa assembly based on revised population figures. The Union Cabinet cleared this proposal in March, just before the Lok Sabha elections schedule was announced.

No seat in the 40-member Goa assembly is currently reserved for the ST community, despite one seat being reserved for Scheduled Castes.

(With inputs from agencies.)