Six seats for Jammu and one additional seat for Kashmir Valley : Delimitation Commission
Recently, the Delimitation Commission (DC) has proposed six seats for Jammu and one additional seat for the Kashmir Valley.
- In August 2019, the Center had set up the Delimitation Commission under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370 and revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
- If the resolution is approved, the total assembly seats in J&K will increase from 83 to 90. Jammu will have 43 (earlier 37) and Kashmir will have 47 (earlier 46).
- An additional 24 seats are proposed to be reserved for Pakistan-controlled Kashmir (PoK).
- Delimitation is the process of determining the boundaries of territorial constituencies containing legislative bodies in a country or state.
- It is entrusted to a high powered body, known as the Delimitation Commission or Boundary Commission.
- Under Article 82, Parliament shall by law provide for the establishment of a Delimitation Commission after every census. Under Article 170, states are divided into territorial constituencies.
- The Delimitation Commission has been constituted 4 times in the year 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002. It is appointed by the President. Its orders have the power of an act and cannot be challenged before any court.
Composition: Three members:
- A serving or retired Judge of the Supreme Court as Chairman.
- Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) or Election Commissioner nominated by the CEC.
- State Election Commissioner of the concerned State/UT.
Source – The Hindu
