Context:

• The government has decided to extend the tenure of Delimitation Commission in Jammu and Kashmir by two more months until May 2022.
• The commission has been tasked with redrawing the Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

Key Points:

• The panel had written to the law ministry in January seeking two months beyond March 5, 2022 - when its term was to expire.
• The extension of term was sought in order to enable it to complete the delimitation process in Jammu and Kashmir that is already at an advanced stage.
• It must be noted here that the term of the panel was last extended by a year in May 2021.
• The extension request also factored in the end of tenure of Sushil Chandra, member of Delimitation Commission since it was set up, as the chief election commissioner in mid-May.
• The delimitation award, if finalised by May, is likely to pave the way for Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections to be held later this year.
• As per the people privy to the proceedings, the earliest that polls can be timed would be October as it takes around 3-4 months for rolls to be revised based on the delimitation award.
• The Delimitation Commission is headed by Justice (Retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai with CEC Chandra and Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commission head as ex-officio members.
• The Commission now plans to deliberate in order to discuss the objections and suggestions received from the five Jammu and Kashmir MPs who are also its associate members, on the draft delimitation proposal.
• The draft, shared with the associate members earlier this month, had detailed proposed boundaries of the redrawn parliamentary and assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir and the seats to be reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled  Tribes.

By: A D Singh