Why in news? Election Commission to begin delimitation exercise in Assam, to use Census figures of 2001

Highlights

• Election Commission to take up the matter with the State government to issue a complete ban on the creation of new administrative units
• The delimitation exercise carried out following a request from the Ministry of Law and Justice as per Section 8A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950
• As mandated under Article 170 of the Constitution, Census figures of 2001 shall be used for readjustment of parliamentary and Assembly constituencies in the State.
• Reservation of seats for SC and ST will be provided as per Articles 330 and 332 of the Constitution of India
• Entire guidelines and methodology for the delimitation process would be designed and finalised by the Election Commission
• During the exercise, the commission will keep in mind the physical features, existing boundaries of administrative units, facility of communication, and public convenience.

What is the entire process ?

• Once a draft proposal for the delimitation of constituencies is finalised by the commission, will be published in the Central and State gazettes for inviting suggestions or objections from the general public.
• 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.
• The last delimitation of constituencies in Assam was done based on the Census figures of 1971 by the then Delimitation Commission in 1976.
• The delimitation process in the four northeastern States of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh was deferred in 2008 due to security issues.