Constitution of India, 1949
170.Composition of the Legislative
Assemblies.-
(1) Subject to the provisions of Article 333,
the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than five
hundred, and not less than sixty, members chosen by direct election from
territorial constituencies in the State.
(2) For the purposes of clause (1), each State
shall be divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio
between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to
it shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the State.
Explanation.- In this clause, the
expression "population" means the population as ascertained at the
last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published:
Provided that the reference in this Explanation
to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published
shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year
2000 have been published, be construed as a reference to the 1971 census.
(3) Upon the completion of each census, the
total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of each State and the
division of each State into territorial constituencies shall be readjusted by
such authority and in such manner as Parliament may by law determine:
Provided that such readjustment shall not affect
representation in the Legislative Assembly until the dissolution of the then
existing Assembly: Provided further that such readjustment shall take effect
from such date as the President may, by order, specify and until such
readjustment takes effect, any election to the Legislative Assembly may be held
on the basis of the territorial constituencies existing before such
readjustment: Provided also that until the relevant figures for the first
census taken after the year 2000 have been published, it shall not be necessary
to readjust the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of each State
and the division of such State into territorial constituencies under this
clause.