J-K Delimitation Commission makes its proposals public; invites objections till March 21

Samaan Lateef

Srinagar, March 14

Delimitation Commission has sought public objections to its proposal on redrawing of boundaries of Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

The commission has asked the general public to submit their objections or suggestions up to March 21. The Commission announced that it will visit Jammu and Kashmir on March 28 and 29 for public sittings. The Commission has its term until May 6.

“Any objections or suggestions in regard to these proposals should reach the secretary, Delimitation Commission, New Delhi,” reads the notification.

The Commission has published the proposals in the Gazette of India and Gazette of J&K, together with dissenting proposals submitted by its associate members – the parliamentarians from National Conference and Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Commission increased seven Assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir, with a majority of them, six, allotted to Jammu province. The J&K will have a 90-seat Assembly now.

It has also not reserved any parliamentary seats for SCs and STs, but seven Assembly seats have been reserved for SCs and nine for STs in the Legislative Assembly.

The panel has kept the number of Lok Sabha seats the same as in the erstwhile state which had five seats after separating Ladakh from J&K.

The Commission is headed by Justice (Retired) Ranjana Prakash Desai and comprised Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra and State Election Commissioner (SEC) KK Sharma.

The Commission is at liberty to accept or reject the objections filed by the public before submission of the final report.

It was set up on May 6, 2020, with a one-year term which was extended by another year on May 6, 2021. While its term was due to expire on March 6, 2022, it was granted a two-month extension to complete the task.