In a recent development, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a petition challenging the Delimitation Commission’s recommendations for redrawing constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. Let’s take a closer look at what the Delimitation Commission is, its composition, and its important features.

What is the Delimitation Commission?

Delimitation is the process of redrawing electoral boundaries to ensure that each constituency has an equal number of voters, preventing any one community from having an unfair advantage in elections. The provision for Delimitation Commission in India is enshrined in Article 82 of the Constitution of India. The first Delimitation Commission was set up in 1952 after the first general elections were held in India.

Composition of Delimitation Commission

The Delimitation Commission is a high-level body set up by the President of India. The Commission is composed of a chairperson and four other members, all of whom are either retired or serving judges of the Supreme Court or High Courts. The members are appointed by the President after consulting the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Delimitation Commission is supported by a secretariat that is headed by a Director.

Important features

The important features are,

  • The Delimitation Commission is responsible for redrawing the boundaries of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha constituencies.
  • The Commission takes into account factors such as geography, topography, and the boundaries of administrative units such as districts and tehsils.
  • It also takes into account the number of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in each constituency and ensures that their interests are protected.
  • The Commission has the power to increase or decrease the number of seats in a state or Union Territory.
  • The delimitation exercise is carried out after each census to ensure that the electoral boundaries reflect the changing demographic profile of the country.
About the Recent Case
  • The Delimitation Commission was constituted by the government after the bifurcation and downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories in 2019.
  • The petitioners argued that the constituencies across the country should remain unchanged until the first census after 2026, which was based on the 1971 Census.
  • The government stated that the Delimitation Commission was part of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act passed in 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370.
  • The Supreme Court dismissed the petition challenging the Delimitation Commission’s recommendations.
  • The dismissal of the petition paved the way for the first-ever Assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Importance of Delimitation Commission

Delimitation Commission plays an important role in ensuring that the electoral boundaries in India are fair and equitable. While some of the Commission’s decisions have faced criticism from regional parties, the delimitation process aims to ensure equal representation of the population in elections, a key aspect of democracy.

MCQs on The Delimitation Commission in India

  1. What is the Delimitation Commission responsible for?
    A. Redrawing the boundaries of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha constituencies
    B. Managing the electoral process during Assembly elections
    C. Setting up polling booths across the country
    D. Counting and tallying votes after the elections
    Correct Answer: A. Redrawing the boundaries of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha constituencies.
    Explanation: The Delimitation Commission is responsible for redrawing the boundaries of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha constituencies, taking into account factors such as geography, topography, and the boundaries of administrative units such as districts and tehsils.
  2. What is the purpose of the delimitation exercise carried out by the Commission?
    A. To protect the interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in each constituency
    B. To increase the number of seats in a state or Union Territory
    C. To ensure that electoral boundaries reflect the changing demographic profile of the country
    D. To reduce the number of constituencies across the country
    Correct Answer: C. To ensure that electoral boundaries reflect the changing demographic profile of the country.
    Explanation: The delimitation exercise is carried out after each census to ensure that the electoral boundaries reflect the changing demographic profile of the country.
  3. When was the Delimitation Commission constituted for Jammu and Kashmir?
    A. Before the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019
    B. After the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019
    C. After the first census after 2026
    D. None of the above
    Correct Answer: B. After the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.
    Explanation: The government had constituted the Delimitation Commission after the bifurcation and downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories in 2019.
  4. What was the argument of the petitioners challenging the Delimitation Commission’s recommendations?
    A. The constituencies across the country should remain unchanged until the first census after 2026
    B. The constituencies across the country should be redrawn after every census
    C. The number of seats in Jammu and Kashmir should be decreased
    D. The number of seats in Jammu and Kashmir should be increased
    Correct Answer: A. The constituencies across the country should remain unchanged until the first census after 2026.
    Explanation: The petitioners argued that the constituencies across the country should remain unchanged until the first census after 2026, which was based on the 1971 Census.

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