Delimitation Debate: Why Are Southern States Wary?

Syllabus: GS2/ Polity & Governance

Context

• The Union Home Minister has assured that no parliamentary constituencies in southern states will be reduced as a result of the proposed delimitation exercise in response to concerns raised by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

Understanding Delimitation

• Delimitation is the process of redrawing the boundaries of parliamentary and legislative assembly constituencies to reflect changes in population. It aims to:
  • Ensure fair representation based on demographic shifts.
  • Adjust the number of seats allocated to different states.
  • Determine reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
• This system was designed to balance population growth with political representation and uphold the democratic principle of “one citizen, one vote, one value.”
• Constitutional Provisions: 
  • Article 82: After every Census, Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act to redefine constituency boundaries.
  • Article 170: The total number of seats in state assemblies is adjusted according to the Delimitation Act after each Census.

Who Conducts Delimitation?

• The Delimitation Commission is an independent body established through a Parliamentary Act, is responsible for overseeing the process. 
• The authority, and its decisions cannot be challenged in court. The Election Commission of India (ECI) provides technical assistance for the exercise. However, the Supreme Court has ruled in 2024 that delimitation orders can be reviewed if they violate constitutional values.
• Composition: Chairperson: A retired Supreme Court judge
  • Members: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) or a commissioner appointed by the CEC.
    • State Election Commissioners of the respective states

History of Delimitation in India

• Parliamentary Authority: The power of delimitation (deciding the number and boundaries of constituencies) is vested in the Parliament.
  • This power has been exercised four times through the Delimitation Commission Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972, and 2002.
• 42nd Amendment Act (1976): Freezes the allocation of Lok Sabha seats to states and the division of territorial constituencies based on the 1971 Census.
  • This freeze was intended to protect states that successfully implemented population control measures from losing their representation in Parliament.
• 84th Amendment Act (2001): Allowed readjustment and rationalization of territorial constituencies based on the 1991 Census.
  • However, it did not permit an increase or decrease in the number of seats allotted to each state in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
  • The main objective was to maintain uniformity in population representation without disturbing the total number of seats.
• 87th Amendment Act (2003): Changed the basis of delimitation from the 1991 Census to the 2001 Census.
  • Like the 84th Amendment, it did not alter the number of seats allocated to each state in Parliament and State Assemblies.
  • It was primarily aimed at ensuring fairer representation based on more recent population data.

Why Is Delimitation Being Revisited?

• The next delimitation exercise is expected to be based on the 2021 Census (delayed due to the pandemic). This has raised concerns among South Indian states, as their population growth has been lower compared to the North Indian states.
• If delimitation follows the historical patterns (1951, 1961, 1971 and 2002), the number of Lok Sabha seats could increase from 543 to 753 based on the population ratio of 20 lakh people per constituency.

Why Are Southern States Worried About Delimitation?

• Northern states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, etc.) have experienced higher population growth, which could result in them gaining more seats at the expense of the South.
• Southern states (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana) fear a loss of representation despite better governance and population control measures.

What’s Next?

• Potential Increase in Total Seats: Instead of reducing seats from any state, the total number of Lok Sabha seats may be increased to accommodate growing population disparities.
• 2026 Review: The next delimitation can happen only after the first Census post-2026, likely to be the 2031 Census.
• Women’s Reservation Act: The implementation of 33% women’s reservation may also impact seat adjustments.

Source: IE