Is the delimitation question settled?

Source– The post is based on the article “A job and career right the disabled cannot be denied” published in “The Hindu” on 21st July 2023.

Syllabus : GS2- Polity

Relevance: Issues related to electoral matters

News- The article explains the issue of delimitation.

What are some facts about delimitation?

Delimitation is the process of redrawing the boundaries of Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituencies to ensure nearly equal representation of voters in each seat.

The most recent delimitation process took place in 1976, and the existing boundaries were determined based on the 2001 Census data. However, the number of Lok Sabha and State Assembly seats remained fixed according to the 1971 Census figures.

In 2002, a constitutional amendment was introduced. It froze the delimitation exercise until the first Census conducted after the year 2026.

This implies that any revision to the constituency boundaries will not occur until the new Census data becomes available after 2026.

Why was it decided to freeze delimitation based on decennial population data, for 25 years after the 1976 delimitation?

The delimitation carried out in 1976 was based on the population data from 1971. Subsequently, in 2002, delimitation was conducted, but the issue of population imbalances persisted.

As a result, there was a decision to refrain from further delimitation until after the first Census conducted after 2026.

The reason for this decision was the significant disparity in population growth rates between the northern and southern states.

Northern states such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar were experiencing decennial growth rates ranging from 12% to 15%, while the southern states had growth rates between 6% and 10%.

Despite the passage of time between 2011 and 2021, there was no balancing effect on the population growth rates. It is anticipated that this balancing process will take place after the Census conducted in 2026.

Why was there no redistribution of Lok Sabha seats across State boundaries in 2002?

The boundaries of Lok Sabha constituencies were redrawn in 2002. Bu, there was no change in the total number of seats in particular States.

The number of seats is determined by Parliament, and in cases of State reorganisation, it is specified in the States Reorganisation Act. For instance, when Uttarakhand was formed, its Assembly was allotted 70 seats.

Parliament has the flexibility to adjust this principle to ensure that, in certain cases, a relatively smaller population continues to elect a Member of Parliament. For example, in Tripura or Manipur, two seats were allocated.

What is the way forward for the next delimitation exercise to ensure the proper presentation of each region and community?

The regional differences in population are clearly indicating a demographic divergence. It may lead to violation of the principle of ‘one person, one vote, one value.’

Parliament has the flexibility to ensure that the number of seats does not decrease anywhere, and even if there is an overall increase in seats.

The ratio of parliamentary representation between northern and southern states may widen.

To address this issue, Parliament must establish a normative proportionality based on population, which allows for certain deviations.

There is a need to determine the appropriate level of proportionality. In terms of representation, the focus should not be solely on count but also on the characteristics of representation.

A standard proportionality norm should be negotiated to ensure that marginalised voices are not excluded when it comes to the allocation of seats.

Representation should involve a more comprehensive accommodation of diverse characteristics, considering India’s diversity and the concentration of certain groups in the population.