The Andhra Pradesh reorganization Act, 2014
Delimitation of constituencies
26. Delimitation of Constituencies.
1. Subject
to the provisions contained in article 170 of the Constitution and without
prejudice to section 15 of this Act, the number of seats in the Legislative
Assembly of the successor States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana shall be
increased from 175 and 119 to 225 and 153, respectively, and delimitation of
the constituencies may be determined by the Election Commission in the manner
hereinafter provided-
a.
the number of seats to be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and
the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assemblies of the States of Andhra
Pradesh and Telangana, respectively, having regard to the relevant provisions
of the Constitution;
b.
the assembly constituencies into which each State referred to in
clause ( a ) shall be divided, the extent of each of such constituencies
and in which of them seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes or for
the Scheduled Tribes; and
c.
the adjustments in the boundaries and description of the extent
of the parliamentary constituencies in each State referred to in clause ( a )
that may be necessary or expedient.
1.
2. In
determining the matters referred to in clauses ( b ) and ( c ) of
sub-section ( 1 ), the Election Commission shall have regard to the
following provisions, namely:-
a.
all the constituencies shall be single-member constituencies;
b.
all constituencies shall, as far as practicable, be
geographically compact areas, and in delimiting them, regard shall be had to
physical features, existing boundaries of administrative units, facilities of
communication and conveniences to the public; and
c.
constituencies in which seats are reserved for the Scheduled
Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall, as far as practicable, be located in
areas where the proportion of their population to the total population is the
largest.
1.
2.
3. The
Election Commission shall, for the purpose of assisting it in the performance
of its functions under sub-section ( 1 ), associate with itself as
associate members, five persons as the Central Government may by order specify,
being persons who are the members of the Legislative Assembly of the State or
of the House of the People representing the State:
Provided that none of the associate members shall have a right
to vote or to sign any decision of the Election Commission.
4. If,
owing to death or resignation, the office of an associate member falls vacant,
it shall be filled as far as practicable, in accordance with the provisions of
sub-section ( 3 ).
5. The
Election Commission shall--
a.
publish its proposals for the delimitation of constituencies
together with the dissenting proposals, if any, of any associate member who
desires publication thereof in the Official Gazette and in such other manner as
the Commission may consider fit, together with a notice inviting objections and
suggestions in relation to the proposals and specifying a date on or after
which the proposals will be further considered by it;
b.
consider all objections and suggestions which may have been
received by it before the date so specified; and
c.
after considering all objections and suggestions which may have
been received by it before the date so specified, determine by one or more
orders the delimitation of constituencies and cause such order or orders to be
published in the Official Gazette, and upon such publication, the order or
orders shall have the full force of law and shall not be called in question in
any court.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. as soon
as may be after such publication, every such order relating to assembly
constituencies shall be laid before the Legislative Assembly of the concerned
State.