Delimitation In Four North-East States:
Supreme Court issues notice on the plea seeking delimitation in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur.
- As per section 8A of RPA 1950, President can order delimitation exercises in these four states.
- However, no such exercise has taken place in these four states in the last 51 years due to various concerns.
- Previous order for delimitation (in 2020) was limited to J&K only.
- Delimitation literally means the process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a state that has a legislative body.
- Delimitation commission orders have the force of law and they cannot be challenged before any court.
- According to the Delimitation Commission Act, 2002, the Delimitation Commission will have three members: a serving or retired judge of the Supreme Court as the chairperson, and the Chief Election Commissioner or Election Commissioner nominated by the CEC and the State Election Commissioner as ex-officio members.
- Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.
- Under Article 170, States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per the Delimitation Act after every Census.
