Q. Consider the following statements regarding ‘Territorial Constituencies in State’:
1. The ratio between the population of each territorial constituency and the number of seats allotted to it is almost similar throughout the state.
2. President is empowered to determine the authority for readjustment and the division of each State into territorial constituencies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: For the purpose of holding direct elections to the assembly, each state is divided into territorial constituencies. The demarcation of these constituencies is done in such a manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it is the same throughout the state. In other words, the Constitution ensures that there is uniformity of representation between different constituencies in the state. The expression ‘population’ means, the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Parliament (not President) is empowered to determine the authority for readjustment and the division of each State into territorial constituencies. Accordingly, Parliament has enacted the Delimitation Commission Acts in 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002 for this purpose.
