North-East removed from the delimitation commission mandate

North-East removed from the delimitation commission mandate

Subject: Polity

Context: After red flag over legal validity of the Centre’s order of forming Limitation Commission for J&K as well as 4 North-East states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, the 4 North-Eastern states have been removed from its mandate.

Concept:

• It also extended the Delimitation Commission’s term by a year with delimitation exercise limited to J&K.
• Section 8A of the Representation of People Act, introduced by Parliament in 2008, states that delimitation in the four northeastern states, when held, would fall within the Election Commission’s remit.
• Thus, any delimitation effort by new commission would have created legal challenges and that’s why it was excluded from mandate.
• Apprehensions expressed in the northeastern states over using the 2001 Census was said to be another reason for this decision.

About Delimitation Commission

• Delimitation means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country or a province having a legislative body.
• The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India.
• Under Article 82 of the Constitution, the Parliament by law enacts a Delimitation Act after every census.
• 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
• It is a high-power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court.