Delimitation Commission Order On J&K Comes Into Effect: Govt Notification

The report of the commission will form the basis for future assembly polls in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Members of Delimitation Commission (File Photo: ANI)

New Delhi: The orders of the Delimitation Commission, which redrew the assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, will “take effect” from May 20, the Union Law Ministry said in a notification, PTI reported. The two orders -- one of March 14 dealing with the number of constituencies reserved for various categories and the second of May 5 dealing with the size of each constituency -- will come into effect together from May 20.

The report of the commission will form the basis for future assembly polls in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 62 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019), the Central Government hereby appoints the 20th day of May, 2022, as the date on which the orders of the Delimitation Commission, Order No. 1, dated the 14th March, 2022 and Order No. 2, dated the 5th May, 2022,... shall take effect,” the Law Ministry said in a notification, according to the news agency.

The Supreme Court had earlier last week sought a response from the Centre, Jammu and Kashmir administration and Election Commission of India (ECI) on a plea of two Kashmir residents challenging the government’s decision to constitute the delimitation commission for redrawing the assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies in the Union Territory.

An apex court bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh issued notice to the Centre and Election Commission of India in this regard last week.

The apex court bench sought their responses within six weeks and said that the rejoinder affidavit shall be filed in two weeks thereafter.

The Delimitation Commission on Jammu and Kashmir, headed by Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Desai, had earlier this month submitted its final report.

The three-member Delimitation Commission recommended increasing the number of assembly seats in the Kashmir region to 47 from the previous 46.

The number of seats in the Jammu region has been increased to 43 from the earlier 37. With this, Jammu and Kashmir will now have 90 Assembly constituencies, reported PTI.

The recommendation will increase the total number of seats in the UT from 83 to 90. The 24 seats in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will continue to remain vacant.

It is also for the first time that nine seats have been proposed for Scheduled Tribes by the commission to improve their representation in the assembly.

Since being formed in March 2020, the Delimitation Commission has faced objections from the Opposition parties and some local residents.