(a) whether the Union Government have appointed Delimitation Commission for the realignment of all Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in the country;

(b) if so, the details in this regard with the terms of reference of the Commission;

(c) whether the Government have received some proposals from the Commission;

(d) if so, the details in this regard;

(e) whether some political parties opposed the proposals of the Commission;

(f) if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the response of the Union Government thereon?

MINISTER OF LAW & JUSTICE AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) The Delimitation Commission has been constituted on 12.7.2002 under the provisions of the Delimitation Act, 2002 with Shri Justice Kuldip Singh, a retired Judge of the Supreme Court as its Chairperson and Shri B.B. Tandon, Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India (nominated by the Chief Election Commissioner), and the State Election Commissioner of the concerned States or Union territories as its ex officio members. The main task of the Commission is to delimit the Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies as per provisions of the Delimitation Act, 2002.

(c) No, Sir. There is no provision in the Delimitation Act, 2002 that it would submit its proposals to the Government.

(d) Does not arise.

(e) The Delimitation Commission has informed that under the provisions of section 9 of the Delimitation Act, 2002, the Commission sends a copy of the working paper containing its proposals for the division of a State into Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies, to the members of the Lok Sabha nominated by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as associate members, and to the members of the Legislative Assemblies nominated by the Speakers of the respective State Legislative Assemblies as associate members under section (5) of the said Act. The Commission considers the suggestions made by the associate members in a meeting called by the Commission for the purpose. Thereafter, draft proposals are published inviting objections and suggestions from the public, on or before a specified date. At that time, any individual including the members of the political parties can express their views on the proposals. Thereafter, the Commission holds public sittings in the State concerned to hear the objections and suggestions of the public. Members of the political parties can also participate in those public hearings and indicate their objections or suggestions to the said proposals. After the public sittings are over, the Commission in an internal meeting takes into account all the suggestions and objections received in writing or made orally at the public sittings and issues a final order. Copies of the Gazette containing the final orders are required to be laid before the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies of the States concerned.

(f) The Government has no information in the matter.

(g) Does not arise.