The first Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting to oppose the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise has resolved that there should be a freeze on Parliamentary constituencies based on 1971 Census Population and this system should be extended by another 25 years.
The JAC, which met on Saturday, unanimously resolved that any delimitation exercise carried out by the Union Government to improve the content and character of democracy should be carried out transparently, enabling political parties of all the States, State Governments and other stakeholders to deliberate, discuss and contribute in it.
It also expressed its deep concern over the lack of transparency and clarity in the impending delimitation exercise without any consultation with the various stakeholders. Political representatives from seven States including three CMs attended the first JAC meeting on Delimitation in Chennai.
“Given the fact that the legislative intent behind the 42nd, 84th and 87th Constitutional amendments was to protect / incentivise States which have implemented population control measures effectively and the goal of national population stabilisation has not yet been achieved, the freeze on Parliamentary constituencies based on 1971 Census Population, should be extended by another 25 years,” the resolution says.
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The States, which have effectively implemented the population control programme and consequently whose population share has come down, should not be penalised, it added, urging the Union Government to enact necessary constitutional amendments for this.
A Core Committee consisting of Members of Parliament from the represented States also decided to coordinate parliamentary strategies to “counter any attempts by the Union Government to undertake any delimitation exercise contrary to the principles mentioned above.”
The Committee of MPs have also decided to submit a Joint Representation on the above lines to the Prime Minister during the ongoing Parliamentary session. The JAC also decided that the parties from the different States represented in the meeting will also work to bring about appropriate resolutions in their respective State Assemblies on the issue.
The JAC will also undertake necessary efforts to disseminate information on the history and context of past delimitation exercises and the consequences of the proposed delimitation among the citizens of their respective States through a coordinated public opinion mobilisation strategy, the resolution said.
