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The Delimitation Commission of India had its first meeting with the Associate Members of Orissa today, the 19th May 2005, chaired by Hon’ble Justice (Retd.) Shri Kuldip Singh. Apart from Shri N.Gopalaswami, Member, Election Commission of India and Shri Sanjib Chandra Hota, State Election Commissioner, who are Members of the Delimitation Commission, the following Associate Members attended the meeting:
1. Shri Girdhar Gamango, MP
2. Shri Prasanna Acharya, MP
3.Shri Bhartruhari Mahatab, MP
4.Shri Jual Oram, MP
5.Smt.Sanchita Mohanty, MLA
6.Shri NalinIkanta Mohanty, MLA
7.Shri Sanatan Bisi, MLA
8.Shri Kalpataru Das, MLA
9.Shri Raghunath Mohanty,MLA
The Chairman of the Delimitation Commission explained the methodology adopted for determining the entitlement of Legislative Assembly Constituencies and the number of reserved constituencies in each district. Most of the Associate Members suggested that the Assembly Constituencies need not be confined within district boundaries and in the interest of achieving uniform average population for each constituency for the whole State, Assembly Constituencies may be allowed cross district boundaries. Suggestion was also given to freeze the number of reserved constituencies. The Commission expressed its reservation on this suggestion since the confining of Assembly Constituencies within the district and the entitlement of reserved constituencies have been worked out keeping in view the provision of the Constitution of India and the Delimitation Act.
The guidelines of the Delimitation Commission were also discussed in the meeting. The associate Members suggested a number of changes in the guidelines. The Chairman clarified that guidelines are formulated for the whole country to take care of different kinds of situations prevailing in various states. So there is no scope for changing the guidelines for any particular state. He, however, assured the Associate Members that while actually drawing the boundaries of constituencies, in case, a situation rises where adhoc decision is to be taken by the Commission in the interest of delimitation and for doing justice to specific sections of people such as Schedule Castes or Schedule Tribes of the area, it will be done.
The Chairman’s attention was drawn to the various criticisms appearing in the local media leveling allegation about the role of the State Election Commissioner and officials of State Government. It was clarified by him that the criticism was entirely unjustified as the working paper is prepared exclusively by the Commission’s Secretariat after obtaining data from its own sources. After it was prepared by the Secretariat, the working paper was discussed by three Members of the Delimitation Commission including the State Election Commissioner and was thereafter sent to the Associate Members. The working paper is open for modification in the light of proposals/suggestions, which will be given by the Associate Members.
It was decided in the meeting that the Associate Members will come out with their proposals on the constituencies and send them to the Commission by the 15th June, 2005. The next meeting of the Commission with the Associate Members has been fixed for 23rd June,2005.
DELIMITATION COMMISSION OF INDIA,
New Delhi, 19 May 2005/29 Vaisakha, 1927
RM:BKS;PM
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