Conflicting Political Interests in Manipur on Delimitation
Conflicting Political Interests in Manipur on Delimitation
“Delimitation literally means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country or a province
having a legislative body.
“Delimitation literally means the act or process of fixing
limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country or a province
having a legislative body. The job of delimitation is assigned to a high power
body. Such a body is known as Delimitation Commission or a Boundary Commission.
In India, such Delimitation Commissions have been constituted 4 times – in 1952
under the Delimitation Commission Act, 1952, in 1963 under Delimitation
Commission Act, 1962, in 1973 under Delimitation Act, 1972 and in 2002 under
Delimitation Act, 2002. The Delimitation Commission in India is a high power
body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before
any court. These orders come into force on a date to be specified by the
President of India in this behalf. The copies of its orders are laid before the
House of the People and the State Legislative Assembly concerned, but no modifications
are permissible therein by them.” Extract from Delimitation of Assam, 2023.
The above quote gives the background of what delimitation is
about and the importance of the exercise as far as Manipur is concerned, as it
would become law and cannot be called in question before any court.
The delimitation ordered by the Supreme Court is based on
Constitutional provisions and is to be implemented within three months in 4 NE
states, including Manipur. It only entails alteration of the boundaries of
constituencies to equally distribute population among the parliamentary and
assembly seats. The number of Lok Sabha seats and assembly seats of Manipur has
remained unaltered since 1971 census and will undergo changes only after 2026
as continuing the freeze on the total number of seats in each state till 2026
has been provided in the 84th amendment to Constitution. This means that the
impending delimitation exercise will only affect the boundaries of
constituencies in Manipur and not affect the total numbers. The delimitation
exercise for Assam is completed, while Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland are under
process, but nothing has started in respect of Manipur.
Guidelines and methodology guides the Delimitation
Commission of India and it prescribes that all parliamentary and assembly
constituencies throughout the State should have similar size population as far
as practicable allowing a deviation to the extent of plus or minus 10 percent
from the State average population. Further, all assembly constituencies in a district
should be confined within the territorial limits of that district, whenever
possible i.e. an assembly constituency should not ordinarily extend to more
than one district.
Furthermore, as far as practicable, sub-divisions are to be
kept intact as one administrative unit and not unnecessarily broken. In
addition, they should be contiguous, and communication and convenience should
be taken into consideration. It is also important to avoid putting areas that
are separated by natural barriers, such as rivers, hilly ranges, or forests, in
the same constituency. The delimitation process should start from the North and
move towards the North-West and then proceed in a zigzag manner to end at the
Southern side.
Some political parties in Manipur, majority of them having
greater influence in the valley, have opposed the implementation of
delimitation exercise directed by the Supreme Court. These political parties
fear that, even if the number of assembly seats in Manipur remains at 60, the
valley district may lose out some seats to the hill districts on account of
higher population figures in the hill areas as per population Census of 2001.
As far as seats in parliament is concerned, it is highly possible that the
valley assembly constituencies of Thoubal and Jiribam falling in Inner Manipur
parliamentary constituency may be deleted and added to Outer Manipur
parliamentary constituency which would be received well by the voters of
Thoubal district. However, the main concern of the political parties appears to
on the changes in assembly seats likely to take place between the valley and
hills.
Manipur has “hill areas” which is protected under Article
371-C and hence 20 assembly seats are given for hill areas of which 19 seats
are reserved for ST category. As the delimitation exercise would be based on
Census 2001 population figures, it is possible that the assembly seats in hill
areas could increase at the expense of the valley.
The principles, guidelines and methodology for delimitation
exercise is based on constitutional provisions for implementation across the
country and has been laid down for all governments to implement under the
Election Commission of India. Opposing overdue delimitation exercise based on
2001 Census population, which has been already implemented across the country
except in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur, is against the tenets of the
Constitution.
Since the existing methodology is based on size of
population, states in south India that have successfully implemented population
control programme are likely to lose seats and have stated objecting to the
next delimitation exercise to be based on first Census population exercise
taken after 2026. Most southern states having contained population growth is
likely to lose out parliamentary seats to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
etc. where the population control programme have failed, upsetting the delicate
north-south balance in parliament. In Manipur, the family planning campaign,
while successfully implemented in the valley, must have failed miserably in the
backward hill areas, resulting in higher population growth which could now
narrow down difference in number of representatives between the valley and hill
areas.
The delimitation exercise is to be carried out as per
constitutional provisions and the SC is ensuring that justice is not denied to
the 4 north eastern states. Opposing the overdue delimitation directed by the
SC would be unconstitutional and smacks of foul play by the dominant community.
Hill areas of Manipur cannot wait for the next delimitation exercise which will
take place based on the first Census population exercise to be carried out
after 2026. The overdue delimitation exercise of Manipur based on 2001 census
population figures should have taken place in 2002 along with other states. The
state government dominated by the Meitei community had objected to the
delimitation exercise in 2002 indicating that the tribes were either befooled
or cowed down to accept the decision of the dominant community for postponing
delimitation during 2002.
The delay by 23 years has given more seats to the valley
constituencies to enjoy the status quo of having 40 MLA seats for at least four
assembly elections since 2002. The valley should be happy that status quo
continued for them for 4 assembly elections, but should now accept realities
provided under the Constitution and not oppose the delimitation exercise
directed by the SC. On the other hand, had the delimitation exercise been done
in 2002, the hill areas would have gained a few MLA seats from 2002 onwards for
at least 4 elections.
The dominant community has been advocating a policy of
continuing their strategy of suppression and subjugation of the people in the
“hill areas” by demanding ST status with ulterior designs to grab tribal lands
in “hill areas”, threatened extension of MLR&LR Act to hill areas again to
grab tribal lands, proposed amendment of Article 371-C of the Constitution with
intention to interfere in the working of the Hill Areas Committee and
compromise the special safeguards given to “hill areas” in respect to land and,
to assuage the tribes by offering to carry out amendments to state law called
the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 with limited empowerment
when it is well known that nothing less than a Bodoland type of
district/territorial council under Article 244 and Sixth Schedule would be
acceptable now.
All these attempts can be termed as strategies of the
dominant community in Manipur to carry out their hegemonic designs of grabbing
tribal lands in “hill areas” and continue their grip for suppression,
exploitation and subjugation of the tribal people in “hill areas”. The rule of
law has to be accepted and followed by the dominant community if Manipur has to
remain as a single entity. These are modern times driven by technology and
knowledge. The tribes are no longer simpletons and rustic. They are well
informed and know their rights. They will fight for their rights as all the issues
discussed above will impact their future and they will not standby and allow
anybody to run roughshod over their future. The SC direction to implement
constitutional provisions for justice and fair play to the people of Manipur
should not be obstructed.
