Read Time: 06 minutes

Synopsis

In a pivotal decision aimed at enhancing political representation for Scheduled Tribes, the Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval for the 'Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes Bill, 2024'. The bill aims to introduce reservations for the ST community within the Goa Legislative Assembly, where currently no seats are reserved exclusively for them.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, during a media briefing on the Cabinet's decisions, highlighted the lack of reserved seats for the ST community in the existing Goa assembly setup. The move to introduce the bill comes in response to longstanding demands from the community for appropriate representation.

According to an official statement, the Election Commission will take into account the updated population figures for the Scheduled Tribes and will readjust the Legislative Assembly constituencies. This adjustment will be in accordance with the provisions of Articles 170 and 332 of the Constitution and Section 8 of the Delimitation Act, 2002.

Salient Features of the Proposed Bill:

• Empowerment of the Census Commissioner: The legislation aims to grant the Census Commissioner the authority to declare the number of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Goa. This data will be essential for the Election Commission to revise the 'Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008,’ enabling ST reservations in Goa's 40-seat Assembly. An official declaration has stated that the Election Commission will consider these new ST population statistics to modify the constituencies of the Legislative Assembly.
• Amendment Authority for the Election Commission: It grants the Election Commission the authority to amend the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008, aiming to provide adequate representation to Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Legislative Assembly through constituency readjustment.
• Procedure Determination for Constituency Readjustment: The Election Commission of India is tasked with determining its own procedures for the readjustment of Legislative Assembly constituencies and will possess specific powers akin to those of a civil court during this process.
• Publication of Amendments: The Bill allows the Election Commission of India to officially publish any amendments made to the Delimitation Order in the Gazette, along with the effective dates. These amendments will not impact the current Legislative Assembly's constitution until its dissolution.
• Correction of Errors in Delimitation Order: Additionally, the Bill provides the Election Commission with the power to rectify any errors present in the Delimitation Order, ensuring the accuracy and fairness of the readjustment process.

The bill, expected to be introduced in the next Lok Sabha following the upcoming general elections, addresses the demands of the ST community, which has advocated for the reservation of four out of the 40 seats in the Goa assembly. Goa's Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, has previously indicated that the reservation for STs in the assembly should be implemented by the 2027 polls.

With an estimated ST population of 1.5 lakh in Goa, as mentioned by Minister Goyal, this legislative move is seen as a significant step towards ensuring equitable representation and safeguarding the constitutional rights of the Scheduled Tribes in the state.

Source- PIB