Srinagar, Jun 13 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) State Executive member and Supreme Court Advocate, Syed Iqbal Tahir has expressed serious concern over the reports about central governments move to undertake fresh delimitation in the state.
Speaking to a gathering of youth in Anantnag town of South Kashmir on Wednesday, Syed Iqbal Tahir has termed the proposed move about fresh delimitation in the state as totally unconstitutional.
He said that the state legislature has in the year 2002 frozen the delimitation prpcess till 2026 , by amending the Jammu & Kashmir Representation of the People Act, 1957, and Section 47(3) of the Constitution of J&K.
"The amended Section 47(3) provides “that until the relevant figures for the first census taken after 2026 have been published, it shall not be necessary to readjust the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of the state and the division of the state into territorial constituencies under this sub-section," Syed iqbal Tahir added.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
"So delimitation in the state was possible only after the process of Census 2031 shall be completed," Syed Iqbal Tahir remarked.
He said since the exercise of delimitation is frozen in all States of the country, there was no reason to single out Jammu and Kashmir for any such exercise.
He said delimitation in the state can be possible only after making an amendment to section 47 of the Constitution of J&K which can be affected only by the elected legislature of the state with requisite majority. He said Governor doesn't have powers to amend the Constitution.
Syed Iqbal Tahir alleged that the BJP was trying to pit Jammu against Kashmir at a time when the polarisation in the state is at an all-time high. He has impressed upon the central government to focus on wining the hearts and minds of the people of the state by addressing their core concerns and issues including the political conflict in Kashmir instead of exploiting emotional issues for petty political gains. (KNS)