Division of district into constituencies

Division of district into constituencies -

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the State Government shall, by notification, divide a district into such number of constituencies so that the population of each constituency is, as far as practicable, fifty thousand and each constituency shall be a single member constituency : Provided that where the population of a district is less than five lakhs, it shall be divided into at least ten constituencies and the population of each constituency shall be, as far as practicable, the same : Provided further that the total number of constituencies in a district shall not exceed thirty-five.
2. (2) The ratio between the population of the territorial area of a Zila Panchayat and the number of constituencies in such Zila Panchayat area shall, as far as practicable, be the same throughout the State. (3)
   • (one) In every Zila Panchayat, - -
   • (a) seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and
   • (b) the Scheduled Tribes, and the number of seats so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in such Zila Panchayat as the population of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes in that area bears to the total population of that area and such seats maybe allotted by the prescribed authority to different constituencies in such Zila Panchayat (***) : Provided that for the purpose of calculation of number of seats to be reserved for Scheduled Tribes in such Zila Panchayats which are other than those which form part of the Scheduled Areas of the district, the total population of the Scheduled Areas falling within the district and the population of the Scheduled Tribes therein shall be excluded.
   • (two) In a Zila Panchayat where the population of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, both, is less than fifty percent, twenty-five percent of the total number of seats shall be reserved for other backward classes and such seats shall be allotted by the Collector in rotation to different constituencies in such manner as may be prescribed.
3. (4) Not less than one half of the total number of seats so reserved under this sub-section shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes or as the case may be, other backward classes.
4. (5) Not less than one half of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Zila Panchayat (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes) shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by the prescribed authority to different constituencies in Zila Panchayat by drawing lots and in 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.