The Pranab Mukherjee Foundation (PMF), a non-governmental institution, has put forth important suggestions for the upcoming delimitation exercise – a process aimed at establishing precise limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country to represent changes in populace. These proposals will address issues such as population growth and political representation.
Key Recommendations
PMF’s recommendations emphasize the need for a two-step process for the impending delimitation exercise. The primary step involves setting up a Delimitation Commission that will delineate boundaries according to the 2031 Census. Further, this commission would suggest state reorganization based on population factors. Subsequently, a State Reorganisation Act should be introduced to implement the Delimitation Commission’s suggestions, which may even involve splitting larger states into smaller ones.
Existing Scenario
The 84th Amendment to the Constitution in 2002 resulted in a temporary halt on the delimitation of Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituencies until the first Census post-2026. Boundaries drawn during this period were based on the 2001 Census, while the total count of Lok Sabha seats and State Assembly seats remained unaltered as per the 1971 Census. The population, which was 50 crore during the last census before the delimitation freeze, has now escalated to 130 crore in the past 50 years. This dramatic increase has led to significant disparities in political representation across the nation.
Understanding the Delimitation Commission
The Delimitation Commission, appointed by the President of India, partners with the Election Commission of India to execute its duties. Its members include a retired Supreme Court judge, the Chief Election Commissioner, and the respective State Election Commissioners.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Delimitation Commission has several key responsibilities. One of its major roles is to establish the number of constituencies and their boundaries to ensure an approximately equal population in each constituency. Additionally, it identifies seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes where these groups have substantial populations.
Historical Context
In its history, India has established Delimitation Commissions four times – in 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002, under the respective Acts of those years. The Delimitation Commission plays an instrumental role in India’s political landscape. Its decisions carry the weight of law and cannot be contested in any court of law.