The Assam state Cabinet recently approved the merger of four districts with their constituent districts, sparking a nationwide dialogue on the process and implications of delimitation. As a response, the Election Commission (EC) announced a delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in Assam, based on the Census data from 2001. Currently, Assam has 14 Lok Sabha constituencies and 126 Assembly constituencies. This article aims to provide a comprehensive view of delimitation, its process, and related issues.
Understanding Delimitation and Its Purpose
Delimitation is an act or process of defining territorial boundaries in a country to accommodate population changes. The primary goal is to ensure equal representation for equal segments of a population and facilitate a fair division of geographical areas to prevent political bias during elections. This process follows the principle of “One Vote One Value”.
The Delimitation Commission, appointed by the President of India, is tasked with this duty. They work independently, without any executive influence, and their orders are final and non-disputable before any court. The aim is to prevent any possible indefinite hold-up of an election. Also, their orders can’t be modified once laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly.
Delimitation Commission: Composition and Role
The Delimitation Commission comprises a retired Supreme Court judge, the Chief Election Commissioner, and the respective State Election Commissioners. This Commission works collaboratively with the Election Commission of India to fulfil its duties.
The Delimitation Process
Under Article 82 and Article 170 of the Indian Constitution, Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census, while States are divided into territorial constituencies as per the Delimitation Act. Following this, the Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission.
Historically, the first delimitation exercise was carried out by the President, with the help of the Election Commission, from 1950-51. Since then, Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times in 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002, enacted under corresponding Acts. There wasn’t any delimitation post the 1981 and 1991 Censuses.
Challenges in the Delimitation Process
The process of delimitation is not without issues. States with low interest in population control could potentially have more seats in Parliament, while those promoting family planning might see a reduction in their seats.
In the 2002-08 delimitation exercise, even though it was based on the 2001 Census data, the total number of seats in Assemblies and Parliament as per the 1971 Census remained unchanged. The 87th Amendment Act of 2003 provisioned for delimitation of constituencies based on the 2001 Census data, but without any alteration in the number of seats allocated to each state in the Lok Sabha.
Moreover, the Constitution has capped the number of Lok Shaba and Rajya Sabha seats to a maximum of 550 and 250 respectively, which adds to the representation challenge as increasing populations are being represented by single representatives.
Past UPSC Civil Services Examination Questions on Delimitation
In 2012, the Civil Services examination included questions regarding the delimitation process, emphasizing its relevance in the current political framework. A question asked that year was: “With reference to the Delimitation Commission consider the following statements: The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in a Court of Law. When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any modification in the orders. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?” The correct answer was “Both.”
By understanding the process and implications of delimitation, one can appreciate the complexities involved in striving for fair representation in a democracy. As India continues to evolve, so too will the methods and policies related to electoral representation.