What is Delimitation

·       It is an act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies

Constitutional and Legal Provisions

·       Under Article 82, Parliament enacts a law for delimitation after every census.

·       Under article 170, States are divided into territorial constituencies as per the delimitation act. (Note: State can’t make the delimitation act.)

History of Delimitation

·       First delimitation: 1950-51 with the help of election commission

·       First Delimitation act: 1952

·       1981 and 1991 census resulted into no delimitation act.

Delimitation Commission

·       Set up by President of India

·       Works in collaboration with Election commission of India.

Structure of Commission

·       Retired Supreme Court Judge

·       Chief Election Commissioner

·       Respective state election commissioner

Functions of Commission

·       Decide the boundaries of constituencies in such manner to make population nearly equal for all constituencies.

·       Identify seats for SC and ST wherever their population is large.

Powers

·       Its orders have the power of law and can’t be questioned in the court of law.

·       These orders come into force on a date to be specified by the President of India.

·       The copies of its orders are laid before the House of the People and the State Legislative Assembly concerned, but no modifications are permissible therein by them.

Challenges with Delimitation

·       Delimitation is being carried out as per the population of 1971.

·       Capping of Lok Sabha and Raya Sabha seats have left more population being represented by single member.

·       Recently, ex president Pranab Mukherjee highlighted that India needs 1000 parliamentarians for true representation.