Supreme CourtImage Credit Source: PTI
A hearing was held in the Supreme Court on the delimitation case of four states in the northeast of the country. During this, the central government presented its version before the court. The ASG of the central government said that the situation in Manipur is not favourable, but consultations are on with the other states. On this, the petitioner’s counsel said that as far as Assam is concerned, delimitation was done there last year, but three states are still left. It is a problem if the Election Commission can proceed without instructions.
The petitioner’s counsel said no delimitation action can be taken unless an order from the President. In this regard, the ASG said that the situation in the northeastern states is so sensitive that we do not want to bother anyone with this. In the case of Arunachal too, we have received feedback that the local people do not want delimitation.
Hearing postponed until the third week of January
Subsequently, at the request of ASG, the Supreme Court postponed the hearing on the petition until the third week of January. In fact, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court demanding delimitation in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The petitioner said that delimitation should be done in these states.
It has been said in the petition that not delimiting these four states is a violation of the fundamental rights enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution. The petition says that there is no law and order problem in these four states. Elections here have also been held peacefully for the past two decades. The process of delimitation was adopted in other states of India, but these four states were private, which is not correct.
Violence continues in Manipur
Although there was peace in Manipur when the delimitation petition was filed before the Supreme Court, many incidents of violence have come to light in the state in recent months. Even today there is a tense situation in many districts including the capital Imphal.
Delimitation demand to the Electoral Commission itself
The petition also demands that all available measures for delimitation in these states have been exhausted. It has been said in the petition that a separate Delimitation Commission should not be constituted for delimitation in these states. The delimitation work in these states should be done by the Election Commission itself.
