MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI SALMAN KHURSHID)
(a): The present composition of the seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly
is as under :-
(i) General- 17
(ii) Bhutia-Lepcha-12
(iii) Scheduled Caste-2
(iv) Sangha-1
As may be seen from the above composition, 12 seats are reserved for
Bhutia-Lepcha not as Scheduled Tribe but as sequel to political agreement
in the year 1973 between Government of India, ex-Chogyal of Sikkim and
Political Parties of Sikkim. Apart from Bhutias and Lepchas, Limboo and
Tamang were recognized as Scheduled Tribes vide the Constitution
(Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) order (Amendment) Act, 2002 (32 of 2002).
(b) ; Any possible reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribein the Sikkim
Legislative Assembly, proportionate increase in Limboo-Tamang, Bhutia-Lepcha
etc. will depend on data of population of Scheduled Tribes in Sikkim on the
basis of 2011 census, not only in terms of their number, but also dispersal
patterns constituency-wise. Based on such data, Sikkim Legislative Assembly
may also need to pass a fresh resolution indicating number of seats that
could be reserved for Scheduled Tribes communities, Bhutia-Lepcahs communities.
Limboo-Tamang communities etc. H is learnt from Office of the Registrar
General of India that even though population enumeration exercise has been
completed, it would require more than a year to get the individual Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes figures to be finalized and published. Hence,
a decision regarding reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes,
Limboo-Tamang, Bhutia-Lepchas etc. will depend on individual population
details of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes figures based on 2011
census, which is still awaited. Any increase/decrease in the present status
could be considered only after a wider debate from all the Stake holders in
the State of Sikkim.