Goa Bill freezes delimitation until 2026 census

This change is necessary because three new communities were added to the Scheduled Tribes list after the last delimitation exercise, increasing their population significantly.

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

What the bill does

• 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.

Also in the document

• The Bill states that no expenditure is involved from the consolidated fund of India.
• The Statement of Objects and Reasons notes that the Scheduled Tribes population in Goa increased from 566 in 2001 to 1,49,275 in 2011 due to the inclusion of Kunbi, Gawda, and Velip communities.
• The Bill clarifies that further delimitation is frozen until the first census after 2026, making this specific legislative action necessary to enable reservation.