One-horned rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park of Assam.
Census figures 2001 to be used for the purpose of delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in the state
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated the delimitation exercise of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in Assam as per Section 8A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The move has been made in pursuance of the request received by the ECI from the Union Ministry of Law and Justice.
The Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel stated today that it has directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Assam to take up the matter with the Assam government to issue a complete ban on the creation of new administrative units with effect from January 1, 2023, till the completion of delimitation exercise in the State.
As mandated under Article 170 of the Constitution, census figures (2001) shall be used for the purpose of readjustment of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies in the State. Reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be provided as per Articles 330 and 332 of the Constitution.
The ECI will design and finalize its own guidelines and methodology for the purpose of delimiting the constituencies. During the delimitation exercise, the Commission will keep in mind the physical features, existing boundaries of administrative units, facility of communication, and public convenience and as far as practicable, the constituencies will be kept as geographically compact areas.
Once a draft proposal of the delimitation of constituencies in the State of Assam is finalized by the Commission, it shall be published in the Central and State Gazettes for inviting suggestions/objections from the general public. In this regard, a Notice will also be published in two vernacular newspapers of the State specifying the date and venue for public sittings to be held in the State.
It may be mentioned that the Ministry of Law and Justice had requested the ECI to conduct the delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies in Assam vide a letter dated November 15, 2022. Under the provisions of the Delimitation Act, 1972, the last delimitation of constituencies in Assam was done on the basis of census figures, 1971, by the then Delimitation Commission in 1976.
– global bihari bureau
