Odisha Assembly Approves Bill On 50% Quota In Urban Local Bodies

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly on Tuesday passed the Odisha Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 keeping the maximum limit of reservation of seats at 50% in urban local bodies (ULBs).

According to the Bill, which was introduced in the House on Monday, maximum 50% of seats in urban local bodies can be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Class (OBC).

The reservation for OBC, which was a contentious issue, would not exceed 27%. Of the reserved seats, 50% will be reserved for women. The same ceiling will apply to offices of chairperson of municipalities.

The Bill was passed after amending the relevant provisions of the Odisha Municipal Act, 1950 and the Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, 2003. The 50 per cent ceiling in favour of SC, ST and BCC together has been brought in compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court.

“Constitution in every Municipality, by the District Magistrate, to such extent not exceeding 27% subject to ceiling limit of 50 per cent of the total number of seats, including those reserved for SC, ST and backward class of citizens taken together and such seats will be allotted by rotation to different wards in a Municipal area at every general election,” the Bill stated.

The passage of the Bill has paved the way for the urban local body (ULB) polls which have not been held since 2018.

Meanwhile, the Odisha Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 with similar reservation provision in 3-tier panchayati raj institutions was introduced in the House on the day.