Delimitation Commission of India: Objectives, Composition, and Constitutional Provisions

Delimitation Commission of India is a high-power body established by the Government of India under the Delimitation Commission Act. Its primary responsibility is to redraw the boundaries of various parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on the latest census data to ensure fair and equal representation for all citizens. 

The commission also decides the number of seats allocated to each state and union territory and identifies constituencies reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). Its decisions are final and cannot be challenged in a court of law, ensuring impartiality in the electoral process.

Delimitation Commission of India

Delimitation literally means the act or process of fixing the limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies (electoral areas) in a country or a state that has a legislative body.

The core purpose of this exercise is to ensure that each constituency has, as far as possible, roughly the same number of people, thereby upholding the principle of 'One Vote, One Value'.

The Delimitation Commission of India is an independent, high-powered body assigned this job by the Government of India. It is considered a quasi-judicial body,and its orders have the force of law, meaning they cannot be questioned in any court.

Constitutional Provisions for Delimitation

The process of delimitation is mandated by the Constitution of India, and certain Articles govern its implementation:

• Article 82: This Article states that after every Census, the Parliament must enact a Delimitation Act. The Central Government then constitutes the Delimitation Commission of India based on this Act.

• Article 170: This mandates the readjustment of the division of territorial constituencies for each State Legislative Assembly after every Census.

• Articles 330 and 332: These constitutional provisions deal with the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha (Parliament) and the State Legislative Assemblies, respectively. The allocation of these reserved seats is based on the proportion of the SC/ST population to the total population of the state.

Composition and Appointment of the Delimitation Commission

The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The Commission typically consists of three members:

• Chairperson: A serving or retired Judge of the Supreme Court.

• Ex officio Members:

• The Chief Election Commissioner.

• The Election Commissioner of the respective State where the delimitation exercise is being carried out.

The composition is designed to ensure neutrality, impartiality, and legal oversight, preventing political interference in the redrawing of electoral boundaries.

Objectives and Functions of the Commission

The primary task of the Delimitation Commission of India is to redraw boundaries to achieve electoral fairness. Its main functions and objectives include:

• Equal Representation: To determine the number and boundaries of constituencies so that the population of all constituencies is nearly equal throughout the state, ensuring that a Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) represents a balanced number of voters.

• Seat Allocation: To allocate the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha to different States.

• SC/ST Reservation: To identify seats to be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in areas where their population is relatively large.

• Fairness and Stability: To maintain electoral integrity by preventing both over- and under-representation of different regions.

Delimitation Process

The Delimitation Commission follows specific guidelines and criteria when redrawing the boundaries of constituencies. The process takes into account several key factors, including:

1. Population Equality: The most important criterion is that all constituencies must have a roughly equal population.

2. Geographical Compactness: The constituencies should be contiguous (connected) and geographically compact.

3. Natural and Administrative Boundaries: The Commission takes into account natural boundaries, such as rivers, hills, and administrative units (like districts and tehsils), to ensure practical and convenient boundaries.

4. SC/ST Concentration: Seats are reserved for SCs and STs in areas where their population concentration is highest, in proportion to their share in the total population.

Historical Delimitation Commissions in India

Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times in India since independence:

Current Freeze and Future of Delimitation

The total number of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies was frozen in 1976 through the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution. This freeze was extended again by the 84th Amendment in 2002.

• Basis of Freeze: The total number of seats remains as per the 1971 Census figures.

• Reason: The primary reason for the freeze was to promote family planning efforts across the country. States that successfully controlled their population growth were to be protected from losing representation in Parliament.

• Next Delimitation: The current freeze on the total number of seats will remain in effect until the first Census conducted after the year 2026.

Significance and Challenges of Delimitation

The Delimitation process is significant for a healthy democracy, but it also presents complex challenges:

Significance

• Upholds Equality: It ensures the principle of 'One Vote, One Value' by periodically evening out the voter strength across all constituencies.

• Fair Representation: It corrects over- or under-representation caused by demographic shifts, such as rapid urbanisation or population migration.

• Justice for Marginalised: It ensures that SC and ST communities receive representation in proportion to their population.

Challenges

• Federal Imbalance: States that implemented successful population control policies (mostly Southern states) fear a loss of political representation to high-population-growth states (like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) when the freeze is lifted after 2026.

• Voter Disparity: The continued freeze based on the 1971 census has led to a large disparity in voter numbers. For instance, a single MP in a densely populated state may represent over 25 lakh voters, while an MP in a smaller state may represent far fewer, thus violating the principle of equal representation.

• Political Resistance: Any change in constituency boundaries can face political resistance from the affected states or political parties, which can complicate the smooth execution of the process.