Election Commission to begin delimitation exercise in Assam
Recently the Election Commission of India (EC) has started the delimitation process for all 126 assembly and 14 parliamentary constituencies in Assam.
Be aware that delimitation is the process of fixing the boundaries of constituencies in the country or state.
Delimitation in Assam-
- The move to reallocate Assam’s assembly and parliamentary seats as per Section 8A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, has been initiated following a request from the Union Law Ministry.
- The Election Commission stated that the delimitation process would redraw constituencies, although the number of seats would remain unchanged, using the 2001 census figures for seat adjustments.
- Let us tell you that in 2002, the 84th Constitutional Amendment had banned the delimitation of Lok Sabha and state assembly constituencies till the first census to be held after the year 2026.
- The current delimitations across the country were drawn on the basis of the 2001 census, but the number of Lok Sabha seats and state assembly seats has been retained on the basis of the 1971 census.
Key Points-
- In March 2020, the central government had notified a Delimitation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland.
- But in March 2021, when the Center extended the term of the Delimitation Commission by one year, the northeastern states were taken out of its purview. The panel was asked to redraw the constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir only.
- As mandated under Article 170 of the Constitution, the Census data (2001) will be used for the purpose of readjustment of parliamentary and assembly constituencies in the state.
- Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes shall be provided in accordance with Articles 330 and 332 of the Constitution of India.
- Under the provisions of the Delimitation Act, 1972, the final delimitation of constituencies in Assam was effected by the then Delimitation Commission in 1976 on the basis of 1971 census data.
- So it has to be adjusted as per the year 2001, the number of seats will not change because under the 84th Constitutional Amendment Act it has been put on hold till the first census after the year 2026.
Source – The Hindu
