Ten opposition leaders have filed a petition at the Supreme Court to challenge the ongoing delimitation process in...
Digital Desk: Ten opposition leaders have filed a petition at the Supreme Court to challenge the ongoing delimitation process in Assam, which seeks to redraw the boundaries of Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituencies based on a recent Census to guarantee each seat has an almost equal number of voters.
Reportedly, the petitioners belong to parties including the Congress, Assam Jatiya Parishad, CPI (M), CPI, TMC, NCP, RJD, and Anchalik Gana Morcha.
The petition, filed through Advocate Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi, especially questions the methodology followed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and its proposals notified on June 20.
The petition claims that average assembly sizes for different districts and population density should not be considered in the delimitation process. It added that, while the Indian Constitution wants to readjust constituencies to maintain fair population distribution, the ECI is relying on 2001 census results and has formed three categories of districts, each with its own set of criteria.
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The petition also challenges Section 8A of the Representation of People Act, 1950, under which the EC exercises its power, claiming that it is arbitrary, opaque, and biased towards Assam and three other northeastern states.
The Opposition leaders have pointed out that similar delimitation exercises have been conducted elsewhere by a high-powered commission headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge, and they have asked the Supreme Court to intervene to ensure a fair and unbiased delimitation process in Assam.
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