In a significant move toward gender equality and democratic reform, the Uttar Pradesh government has drafted new legislation to abolish a 165-year-old colonial-era law that automatically made the district magistrate's wife the president of Zilla Mahila Samiti.
Supreme Court's Strong Stance Against Colonial Mentality
The development came after the Supreme Court of India repeatedly expressed strong disapproval of the archaic provision. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard the case on Tuesday, where the UP government confirmed that the bill to remove this anti-democratic provision had been finalized and would soon be introduced in the state assembly.
The bench did not mince words in its criticism, remarking that it was high time to discard the colonial-era mentality of treating district magistrates like kings. The court emphasized the need for democratic values in the governance of such societies.
Timeline for Implementation and Current Arrangements
The Supreme Court has given the Uttar Pradesh government a strict deadline of two months to place the bill on the floor of the House for approval. Once passed by the assembly, the state government must ensure the bill receives the governor's assent and is notified in the gazette to formally become law.
The order came in response to a petition filed by the Zilla Mahila Samiti of Bulandshahr. During the proceedings, the bench heard arguments from the petitioner's counsel, senior advocate Tapesh Kumar Singh.
Until the new law comes into force, the earlier body will continue managing the day-to-day affairs and discharging statutory duties of the Bulandshahr Zilla Mahila Samiti. Interestingly, during the petition's pendency, the ex officio president of the samiti had resigned because her husband had been transferred out of the district.
Broader Implications for Democratic Governance
The proposed bill aims to revamp the Societies Registration Act and will govern all such societies immediately after coming into force. The Supreme Court had previously directed that the amended provisions must ensure that bylaws, rules, or regulations of societies shed the colonial mindset of conferring ex officio positions to spouses or family members of state bureaucrats.
The court clarified that while it's the legislature's responsibility to bring suitable amendments, the new structure should lean toward democratic values where most members are duly elected rather than appointed by virtue of family connections.
This landmark decision marks a significant step away from colonial-era practices and toward more democratic and equitable governance of women's organizations in Uttar Pradesh.
