Question : FREEZING OF LS SEATS

(a) whether the Government propose to maintain status quo on Lok Sabha seats till 2026;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Chief Election Commissioner has hailed this decision;

(d) if so, whether State Governments are also supposed to contribute in this direction by controlling the population;

(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the Government propose to undertake delimitation of the constituencies of the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies; (g) if so, the details thereof and the basis thereof; and (h) the time by which it is likely to be done?

MINISTER OF LAW, JUSTICE & COMPANY AFFAIRS

(SHRI RAM JETHMALANI)

(a), (b), (d), (e), (f), (g) & (h) : The Constitution 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 laid an embargo on undertaking fresh delimitation of constituencies until the figures of the first census taken after the year 2000 become available, vide proviso to article 82 and 170(3) of the Constitution. The measure was undertaken to boost family planning norms. Government has been receiving representations to extend the embargo on the plea that some of the States, especially the States in the South, have achieved considerable success in the area of family planning while others have quite miserably failed in their efforts in this direction; and, therefore, if a fresh delimitation is undertaken on the basis of new census figures, those States who have achieved success in family planning would be loser in respect of number of seats in the Legislatures. Government has, therefore, decided to take steps to extend the current freeze on undertaking fresh delimitation till the year 2026 AD as part of its new population policy strategy.
Government, however, desires to have a meeting with leaders of political parties to discuss the issue as also some associated topics like delimitation of constituencies without affecting the number of seats allotted to a State so as to remove the imbalance caused due to uneven growth of population in different constituencies, rotation of reserved seats, etc. and will go by the consensus in the matter. If necessary, suggestions of State Governments may also be invited. No timeframe can be suggested, however, in this regard for taking any final decision in the matter.
(c): The Election Commission of India has informed that the Chief Election Commissioner, in his personal capacity, agrees with the proposal to freeze the number of seats in Lok Sabha.