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NEW DELHI: With likely changes in the nomenclature of a few assembly constituencies and some further readjustments in Jammu and Kashmir’s constituency map from what was proposed in the last delimitation draft out in March 2022, the Delimitation Commission has finalised the delimitation award for J&K and is set to notify it on Thursday.
The Delimitation Commission headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai and having chief election commissioner Sushil Chandra and J&K state election commissioner as ex-officio members, held a series of meetings over the last few days to study and consider the suggestions and objections communicated to it by members of the public, civil society and political representatives at public hearings conducted in Jammu and Srinagar on April 4 and 5.
Some of the suggestions and demands in which the panel is said to have found merit on grounds like historical perspective and connectivity in terms of communication facilities and roads, and which it is inclined to concede in the final award, are changes in the name of a few assembly constituencies (ACs). The nomenclature revisions believed to have been approved are Tangmarg AC to Gulmarg AC (in district Baramulla), Zoonimar AC to Zadibal AC and Sonwar AC to Lal Chowk AC (both in Srinagar district); Kathua North AC to Jasrota AC (in Kathua district)â and Khour AC to Chhamb AC (in Jammu district).
There has also been a minor redrawing of boundaries of a few assembly constituencies, in line with demands and suggestions made by the public and other stakeholders. Sources said the panel examined these demands on considerations such as better connectivity and contiguity in terms of roads, public conveniences and communication facilities. The idea, a functionary told TOI, was to be flexible and appreciate the genuine grievances of members of the public and their representatives against its draft delimitation proposal placed in the public domain in mid-March. Accordingly, the panel has added or removed one of more patwari circles from the assembly constituencies proposed in the March draft.
The changes likely to be introduced in final delimitation award cut across both Jammu region and Kashmir region and cover a dozen of J&Kâs 20 districts.
With the notification of the J&K delimitation award, the proceedings of the Delimitation Commission, notified in May 2020 with a one-year tenure followed by two extensions, first for a year and second for two months, will come to an end.
The delimitation award â which increases total assembly seats in J&K from 83 to 90, with six of the seven new seats added in Jammu region and 1 in Kashmir Valley, while also reserving 9 constituencies for Scheduled Tribes and 7 for Scheduled Castes â is final and cannot be challenged in any court of law.
According to a senior EC functionary, it may take the poll panel 3-4 months to prepare the new J&K electoral roll as per the newly-delimited constituencies. Only after that can a call be taken on holding assembly polls in J&K. While there is talk of J&K election being held along with the polls due in Gujarat as well as Himachal Pradesh later this year, any decision in this regard will have to be taken by EC after consulting the home ministry and J&K government on whether the security situation in the terrorism-hit state is conducive to holding the democratic exercise. Other considerations like weather and agricultural calendar, particularly the apple-growing season, will also need to be factored in.
The Delimitation Commission headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai and having chief election commissioner Sushil Chandra and J&K state election commissioner as ex-officio members, held a series of meetings over the last few days to study and consider the suggestions and objections communicated to it by members of the public, civil society and political representatives at public hearings conducted in Jammu and Srinagar on April 4 and 5.
Some of the suggestions and demands in which the panel is said to have found merit on grounds like historical perspective and connectivity in terms of communication facilities and roads, and which it is inclined to concede in the final award, are changes in the name of a few assembly constituencies (ACs). The nomenclature revisions believed to have been approved are Tangmarg AC to Gulmarg AC (in district Baramulla), Zoonimar AC to Zadibal AC and Sonwar AC to Lal Chowk AC (both in Srinagar district); Kathua North AC to Jasrota AC (in Kathua district)â and Khour AC to Chhamb AC (in Jammu district).
There has also been a minor redrawing of boundaries of a few assembly constituencies, in line with demands and suggestions made by the public and other stakeholders. Sources said the panel examined these demands on considerations such as better connectivity and contiguity in terms of roads, public conveniences and communication facilities. The idea, a functionary told TOI, was to be flexible and appreciate the genuine grievances of members of the public and their representatives against its draft delimitation proposal placed in the public domain in mid-March. Accordingly, the panel has added or removed one of more patwari circles from the assembly constituencies proposed in the March draft.
The changes likely to be introduced in final delimitation award cut across both Jammu region and Kashmir region and cover a dozen of J&Kâs 20 districts.
With the notification of the J&K delimitation award, the proceedings of the Delimitation Commission, notified in May 2020 with a one-year tenure followed by two extensions, first for a year and second for two months, will come to an end.
The delimitation award â which increases total assembly seats in J&K from 83 to 90, with six of the seven new seats added in Jammu region and 1 in Kashmir Valley, while also reserving 9 constituencies for Scheduled Tribes and 7 for Scheduled Castes â is final and cannot be challenged in any court of law.
According to a senior EC functionary, it may take the poll panel 3-4 months to prepare the new J&K electoral roll as per the newly-delimited constituencies. Only after that can a call be taken on holding assembly polls in J&K. While there is talk of J&K election being held along with the polls due in Gujarat as well as Himachal Pradesh later this year, any decision in this regard will have to be taken by EC after consulting the home ministry and J&K government on whether the security situation in the terrorism-hit state is conducive to holding the democratic exercise. Other considerations like weather and agricultural calendar, particularly the apple-growing season, will also need to be factored in.
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