Describing women as the largest minority in the country, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to respond to a PIL seeking implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, 2023, which reserved one-third seats for women in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and Delhi Assembly, including those reserved for SCs and STs.

“Preamble (to the Constitution) says (all citizens are entitled to) political and social equality. Who is the largest minority in this country? It’s the woman — almost 48 per cent. This is about political equality of women,” a Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan said, issuing a notice to the Centre.

The order came after senior advocate Shobha Gupta submitted on behalf of petitioner Jaya Thakur that it was unfortunate that women had to move the top court f

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