Division of block into constituencies

Division of block into constituencies —

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the State Government shall, by notification, divide a block into such number of constituencies as to make the population of each constituency as far as possible five thousand and each constituency shall be a single member constituency: Provided that where the population of a block is less than fifty thousand, the block shall be divided into at least ten constituencies and the population of each constituency shall be as far as possible the same: Provided further that the total number of constituencies in a block shall not exceed twenty-five.
2. (2) The ratio between the population of the territorial area of a Janpad Panchayat and the number of constituencies in such Janpad Panchayat shall, as far as possible, be the same throughout the State. (3)
   • (one) In every Janpad Panchayat —
   • (a) Scheduled Castes, and
   • (b) Scheduled Tribes, shall have seats reserved and the number of such reserved seats shall bear, as far as possible, the same proportion to the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in that Janpad Panchayat as the population of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes in that Janpad Panchayat area bears to the total population of that area and such seats may be allotted by the prescribed authority to different constituencies in that Janpad Panchayat in such manner as may be prescribed: Provided that for the purpose of calculating the number of seats to be reserved for Scheduled Tribes in any such Janpad Panchayat as falls in a block other than the Scheduled Areas forming part of that block, the total population of the Scheduled Areas falling within that Janpad Panchayat and the population of Scheduled Tribes therein shall be excluded.
   • (two) In a Janpad Panchayat where the combined population of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is less than fifty per cent, twenty-five per cent of the total number of seats shall be reserved for Other Backward Classes and such seats shall be allotted to different constituencies by the Collector in such manner as may be prescribed by rotation.
3. (4) Out of the seats reserved under sub-section (3), at least
   • (half) of the seats shall be reserved for the women of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes, as the case may be.
4. (5) In every Janpad Panchayat, at least
   • (half) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election (including the number of seats reserved for women of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes) shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by the prescribed authority for different constituencies in the Janpad Panchayat by draw of lots and rotation in such manner as may be prescribed. (***)
5. (6) Constituencies in which there is no population of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes, shall be excluded from the allotment of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes, as the case may be.