Minister explains delay in delimitation exercise

Minister of State for Law K Venkatapathy in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Monday said the Delimitation Commission could not complete its work on schedule because of several reasons.

By a Constitutional amendment in 2003, the 1991 Census figures were replaced by the 2001 Census figures for the purpose of readjusting constituencies. As a consequence, the work done by the Commission till June 2003 on the basis of the 1991 Census figures became useless and the Commission had to start afresh. The new figures were made available to the Commission in December 2003. After dissolution of the Lok Sabha, the associate members of the Delimitation Commission were nominated only in July 2004.

Moreover the Gauhati High Court stayed the delimitation exercise with respect to the state of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur on the grounds of disputed census figures.

So far the Commission has completed its exercise in 25 states. The delimitation exercise in respect to the remaining states and Union Territories is yet to be completed. The new delimitation will take effect from the date specified by the President, the minister said.