Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 5: In a significant legislative move, the Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed a Bill that grants long-awaited reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Goa Legislative Assembly, even as the House continued to be disrupted by Opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
Titled The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2025, the legislation was introduced for consideration by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Despite a noisy session, the Bill was adopted via voice vote, becoming the first legislative victory of the ongoing Monsoon Session.
The Bill aims to address a historical imbalance in Goa’s electoral structure. According to the 2011 Census, Goa’s ST population stood at 1,49,275, significantly outnumbering the Scheduled Caste (SC) population of just 25,449. Yet, while the 40-member Goa Assembly reserves one seat for SCs, no seat has ever been reserved for STs.
The newly passed law empowers the Election Commission to amend the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008, to reflect updated demographic data and provide appropriate representation to Goa’s tribal communities.
The legislation, first introduced in the House on August 5, 2024, had remained in limbo for a full year before receiving Union Cabinet clearance earlier this year. Its enactment is expected to bring constitutional safeguards and greater political inclusion to Goa’s ST communities, particularly the Kunbi, Gawda, and Velip groups, who were added to the Scheduled Tribes list in 2003.
However, the passage of the Bill was overshadowed by Opposition protests led by members of the INDIA Bloc, who continued to demand a structured debate on the Election Commission’s ongoing SIR process in Bihar. The revision of electoral rolls has become a flashpoint in the state, with allegations of voter deletions and procedural irregularities sparking political uproar.
Throughout the session, MPs raised slogans like “SIR par charcha ho” and “Vote ki chori nahi chalegi,” prompting repeated interventions from the Chair. Following the Bill's passage, proceedings were adjourned for the day by Sandhya Ray, as protests persisted without resolution.
The Monsoon Session continues to be marred by procedural gridlock, as partisan tensions stall crucial legislative business and reflect deepening rifts in the political landscape.