What is Delimitation ? परिसीमन क्या है ?

Mr Dear Young and Little Indian Students,

At the start of the new academic session, new students (New admissions) would have joined your school.

Just assume that there are 120 students in your class divided into three sections- A, B and C. Your school has a policy of having approximately 40 students in each section.

This academic year 15 new students join your class. Now the total number of students is 120+15=135.

If 135 students are divided into three sections, each section will have 45 students each. The school will allot 5 new students to each section making the strength 45 in each section. 

In the next academic year, another 21 new students join your class.Now the total number of students is 156.  

If 156 students are divided into three sections, each section will have 52 students each. But this will be a significant deviation from the figure of 40- the number of students that the school has decided to have in each section. 

Now the school will create one new section- D. Now each section A, B, C and D will have 39 students each. (complying with the policy of 40 students per class)

When the number of students in a school increases then new 'Sections' have to be created.

If your school is INDIA then the different classes (7,8,9,10...) are the different states of INDIA and the different sections in each class (A,B, C.....) are the Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha constituencies in each state. The Principal of your school is the Govt of India.

When the population of India increases then new 'Constituencies' have to be created.

The process of redrawing the boundaries or redrawing the limits of political constituencies is called Delimitation.

निर्वाचन क्षेत्रों की सीमाओं के पुनर्निर्धारण की प्रक्रिया को कहते हैं परिसीमन

What are the factors that necessitate delimitation.. 

1. Change in population-- Population will increase with time but it may also decrease because of migration.
2. Creation of new States or Union Territories-- For example, on 5 Aug 2019 the state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into Laddakh and Jammu & Kashmir. 
   

What are the objectives of Delimitation.

1. To ensure adequate representation of people in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas---.- If the number of students in your class increase from 40 to 70 then your teacher will not be able to interact with all students and also the students will not get enough opportunity to talk to the teacher. Similarly, with increase in population the MLA or MP will not be able to address grievances of the public. Hence constituencies may have to be split into smaller constituencies.
2. To ensure equal representation of people in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas.- There should not be a situation where one constituency has, say, 50 thousand voters and another constituency has 5 Lakh voters. In such a case one MLA/ MP will have advantage over the other. Hence constituencies may have to be reorganised/ redefined.
   

Who conducts Delimitation exercise ?

This is done by The Delimitation Commission

As per Article 82 of the Indian Constitution, the Parliament enacts a 'Delimitation Act' after every census. (Census means counting of Indian population. This happens every ten years)

Once the Act is made, the Govt of India sets up a Delimitation Commission.

This Delimitation Commission redefines the limit and number of constituencies based on the population data (number and density) as per latest census.

As per the Constitution of India, the orders and decisions of Delimitation Commission are FINAL. These cannot be challenged in any court of law. The boundaries and number of constituencies as decided by Delimitation Commission are FINAL. NO modifications are allowed. Neither the Govt nor the courts can make any changes.

Who are the members of Delimitation Commission ?

Retired Supreme Court Judge

Chief Election Commissioner of India

The respective State Election Commissioner.

History of Delimitation in India

Delimitation exercises were conducted in 1952, 1963, and 1973.

However, delimitation was not done after census of 1981 and 1991. What was the reason for this ?

Mrs Indira Gandhi had imposed Emergency in 1975.

During the Emergency, through Forty Second (42nd) Amendment the government froze the total Parliamentary and Assembly seats in each state till 2001 Census.

In 2001, even though the boundaries of constituencies were altered to equate population among the parliamentary and assembly seats, the number of Lok Sabha seats that each state has and those of legislative assemblies has remained unaltered since 1971 census and may only be changed after 2026 as the constitution was again amended (84th Amendment to the Constitution) in 2002 to continue the freeze on total number of seats in each state till 2026.

Jai Hind !

Gaurav Negi