Delimitation Commission

Delimitation Commission

Context: Three out of Five associate members skipped the meeting of delimitation panel being held for delimitation of Jammu and Kashmir post it becoming UT in 2019.

Concept:

• The current panel will delimit the constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, and those of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland in accordance with the provisions of the Delimitation Act, 2002

About delimitation and 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.
• 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:

1. Retired Supreme Court judge
2. Chief Election Commissioner
3. 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.
• It has been set up four times so far — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.
• The present delimitation of constituencies has been done on the basis of 2001 census figures under the provisions of Delimitation Act, 2002.
• Amendment in 2002 provided for not to have delimitation of constituencies till the first census after 2026.