Election Commission of India start process of delimitation of Assam

Subject :Polity

Context:

Recently, the Election Commission (EC) has mentioned that it has decided to start delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Assam.

More about the news;

The Process will be based on Census data from 2001.
The last Delimitation of constituencies in Assam was done in 1976 on the basis of the 1971 Census.
The EC also issued a directive banning the creation of new administrative units in the state with effect from January 1 next year until completion of the delimitation exercise in the state.

What is Delimitation:

Delimitation is the act of redrawing boundaries of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies to represent changes in population and is done on the basis of the preceding Census.
This exercise is carried out by a Delimitation Commission, whose orders have the force of law and cannot be questioned before any court.
Constitutional provisions:
- Article 82: This provides the Parliament with the authority to enact a Delimitation Act after every Census.
- Article 170: This provides for the States to get divided into territorial constituencies as per the Delimitation Act after every Census.
The Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission once the Act is in force.

What is Delimitation Commission:

It is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India.
Its members are a serving or retired Supreme Court judge, Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner nominated by CEC and Election Commissioners of the respective state.
Its function is to determine the number and boundaries of constituencies, to identify seats reserved for SC/ST.
It is ahigh power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court.
Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.