The Union Cabinet last night cleared the much-delayed Women's Reservation Bill which provides for 33 per cent reservation to the fair sex in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The Bill has been hanging fire for close to 14 years dueto lack of political consensus on the issue. According to PTI the Union Cabinet meeting was presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The bill found significant mention in the President's address to Parliament on Monday when it was stated that efforts would be made to get it passed in the ongoing Budget session itself. It was first drafted by the United Front government headed by H D Deve Gowda and brought to Parliament in September 1996. The bill has already been introduced in the Rajya Sabha and was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice and Personnel.Sources said since the Bill is the property of the House, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) would decide onwhen to take next step such as initiating debate and the passage. The Congres appealed to all parties to adopt a constructive approach towards the Bill's passage whilePrincipal opposition party BJP pledged support but RJD appeared to be sticking to its stand of a quota within quota. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said the approval is a reflection" of the Congress commitment to women's cause. Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley told PTI that his praty will support the legislation in Parliament. However, RJD chief Lalu Prasad reaffirmed his party's view that there should be a quota within quota for women from backward classes.