Goa Bill freezes delimitation until 2026 census

This Bill enables the Election Commission to adjust the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Legislative Assembly. This change is necessary because three new communities were added to the Scheduled Tribes list after the last delimitation exercise, increasing their population significantly.

The Bill affects the Scheduled Tribes of the State of Goa, the Election Commission of India, the Census Commissioner, and the Central Government.

• The Census Commissioner must ascertain or estimate the population of Scheduled Tribes in Goa based on the 2001 census and subsequent amendments to the Scheduled Tribes Orders.
• The Election Commission is empowered to amend the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008, to provide proper representation to Scheduled Tribes.
• The Election Commission must publish proposals, consider objections, and hold public sittings before finalizing amendments.
• Amendments made by the Election Commission shall have the force of law and cannot be challenged in any court.
• The readjustment of seats applies to every election held after the publication of the amendments, but does not affect the current Assembly until its dissolution.
• The Central Government may issue orders to remove difficulties in implementing the Act within two years of commencement.

Written from the document by AI, and checked against it. The original below is authoritative.

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