Jammu And Kashmir Delimitation To Be Based On 2011 Census: Commission

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra said a draft will be prepared and put in the public domain for their comments, after taking all demands and recommendations into account regarding the Jammu and Kashmir delimitation process.

The Delimitation Commission on Friday said that delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted on the basis of the 2011 Census and the final draft will be prepared after taking all demands and recommendations into account. While addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner of India Sushil Chandra said, "The first full-fledged delimitation commission was formed in 1981 which could submit its recommendation after 14 years in 1995. It was based on the 1981 census. Thereafter, no delimitation has taken place." "In 2020, the delimitation was constituted to carry on the exercise on the basis of 2011 Census as per Section 62 of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. Twenty four seats of the legislative assembly of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall remain vacant and the said area shall be excluded in delimiting the territorial constituency as provided under part V of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019," Mr Chandra said. "In 1995, there were 12 districts. The number has gone up to 20 now. The number of tehsils has gone up from 58 to 270. In 12 districts, constituency boundaries are extended beyond the district's limit. There is an overlapping of districts as well as the tehsils in constituencies. Such facts indicate that the public faces inconvenience due to such anomalies," he said.