Centre Weighs Special Session for Delimitation Bill

CENTRE CONSIDERS SPECIAL SESSION FOR DELIMITATION BILL

WHY IN THE NEWS ?

  • The Union Government is considering convening a Special Session of Parliament to pass the Delimitation Bill, 2026, linked to implementing the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023.
  • The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to increase Lok Sabha seats and facilitate 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies.

CENTRE CONSIDERS SPECIAL SESSION FOR DELIMITATION BILL

PROPOSED DELIMITATION BILL AND GOVERNMENT’S PLAN:

  • Special Session: The Centre is considering a special sitting of Parliament to secure approval for the Delimitation Bill, 2026. However, the dates and duration of the proposed session have not been announced.
  • Constitutional Majority: The government requires 361 votes, representing a two-thirds majority, to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill in the 543-member Lok Sabha, which currently has three vacancies.
  • Seat Expansion: The proposed amendment seeks to increase Lok Sabha strength from 543 to a maximum of 850 seats, creating a framework for implementing 33% women’s reservation.
  • Census Reference: The proposed expansion and delimitation exercise are linked to the 2011 Census, according to the government’s plan.
  • State Representation: During earlier discussions, the Centre had proposed increasing Lok Sabha seats of all States by 50% to preserve their existing inter-State seat ratios based on the 1971 Census. A similar provision may be incorporated into the revised Bill.

POLITICAL DISAGREEMENTS AND PARLIAMENTARY DEVELOPMENTS

  • Earlier Setback: A similar Constitution Amendment Bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority during a special sitting of the Budget Session on April 17.
  • Government Confidence: Government sources claim that the ruling side has at least 15–16 more votes than required to pass the proposed legislation.
  • Session Status: The Monsoon Session, adjourned sine die on August 13, has not yet been prorogued, keeping open the possibility of convening Parliament at short notice.
  • Unusual Development: The session has remained unprotogued for 91 days, exceeding the previous record of 87 days set in 2008.
  • Opposition Resistance: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the government’s proposal, arguing that the earlier attempt had failed and that the government would not succeed through another attempt.

ABOUT DELIMITATION AND WOMEN’S RESERVATION:

●      Delimitation: It refers to the process of redrawing boundaries of territorial constituencies to ensure fair political representation based on population.

●      Constitutional Provisions: Articles 82 and 170 provide for readjustment of Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly constituencies, respectively, after each Census.

●      Delimitation Commission: It is a statutory body constituted by Parliament to undertake delimitation exercises. Its orders have the force of law and cannot be challenged in court.

●      Women’s Reservation Act, 2023: The 106th Constitutional Amendment provides 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, subject to the prescribed delimitation and Census-related conditions.

●      Federal Concerns: Delimitation raises concerns about unequal political representation, population control incentives and the balance of power between northern and southern States.