Jammu and Kashmir Delimitation Commission

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

The Delimitation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir was constituted by the Centre on 6th March 2021 to redraw Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies of the union territory in accordance with the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 and Delimitation Act, 2002, passed by the Centre in August 2019 along with other J&K-specific Bills.

The panel has recommended seven additional constituencies — six for Jammu and one for Kashmir — taking the total number of seats in the UT to 90 from 83 earlier

• It has reorganised of the Parliamentary constituencies such that the five Lok Sabha seats now are made up of exactly 18 Assembly constituencies each, taking the total number to 90
• It has reserved nine Assembly seats for Scheduled Tribes – six in Jammu and three in Kashmir
• It has removed the regional distinction between Jammu and Kashmir by treating it as one, as is reflected in the combining of Anantnag region in Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu to carve out Anantnag-Rajouri as a Parliamentary constituency.

What is delimitation?

• Delimitation is the act of fixing or redrawing the limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies of Assembly or Lok Sabha seats in a country
• The delimitation exercise is carried out by an independent high-powered panel known as the Delimitation Commission
• The redrawing of the constituencies is done based on its population size – based on its last census
• The process may also result in change in the number of seats in a state.
• This exercise also involves reservation of Assembly seats for SC & ST in accordance with the Constitution.
• The Commissions orders have the force of law and cannot be questioned by any court.

Objective of delimitation: 

• To provide equal representation to equal segments of a population; 
• Fair division of geographical areas so that one political party doesn’t have an advantage over others in an election.

Constitutional Provisions

• Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.
• Under Article 170, States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census.
• Once the Act is in force, the Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission
• Delimitation Commissions had been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.

Composition of Delimitation Commission

• The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India

Composition:

• Retired Supreme Court judge
• Chief Election Commissioner
• Respective State Election Commissioners