Delimitation of Constituencies and Women's Reservation
The government plans to introduce three Bills in the extended Budget session of Parliament to address the delimitation of constituencies for the early implementation of women's reservation in Parliament and state assemblies. These Bills aim to answer existing questions while raising new debates.
Main Provisions and Changes
- Increased Seating Capacity:
- The number of elected members is capped at 815, a 50% increase from the current 543 in the Lok Sabha.
- The new Parliament building's Lok Sabha chamber can seat 888 members, expandable to 1,272 for a joint session.
- Delimitation Formula:
- Unclear specifics on seat allocation by state based on population.
- Government commits to maintaining current state proportions in Parliament seats.
Proposed Legislative Changes
- Decadal Delimitation Removal:
- Amendment to Article 82, removing the requirement for delimitation after every Census.
- Delimitation becomes a discretionary process, operationalized through ordinary legislation.
- Redefining Population for Seat Allocation:
- Amendments to Article 81 allow Parliament to determine which Census figures are used.
- This adds flexibility but shifts discretion to the executive arm of the government.
Operational Framework
- Delimitation Commission:
- Will carry out readjustment based on any specified Census.
- Gives Parliament the power to determine the timing and dataset for delimitation with a simple majority.
- Past Practices vs Proposed Framework:
- Previously, deferring delimitation required constitutional amendments with a two-thirds majority.
- The new framework lowers the threshold, giving future governments more control over the process.
Key Debates and Concerns
- Allocation Formula Gap:
- The Bills lack clarity on how Lok Sabha seats will be distributed to maintain regional balances.
- The gap between political assurances and the legal framework raises concerns.
- Constitutional Principle of Equal Representation:
- Article 81 requires uniformity in the ratio of a state's population to its allocated seats.
- Ensuring this principle while maintaining existing seat shares will be a significant debate point.
