They have cited the ‘Sangha model’ of Sikkim where a ‘floating’ constituency is reserved for Buddhist monks as well as a nomination model as seen in Puducherry assembly. Besides, they sought the nomination of Anglo Indians as possible methods to ensure representation of minorities in the J&K assembly. While the groups have also met the delimitation panel on these issues earlier, they have now argued that the ‘Delimitation Commission is hemmed in by the constraints of law’.
The delegation led by senior Kashmiri Pandit and BJP leader Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo sought that clause A could be added to Section 36 of the now repealed Jammu and Kashmir Representation of the People Act, 1957.
This, they have argued, will allow polling booths away from the jurisdiction of an assembly constituency to facilitate a displaced person to cast a vote. Similarly , constituencies could be carved out for them to ensure their representation in the assembly, the delegation said.
The delimitation process, on the other hand, is tied up with the headcount of people and geography-—both of which elude the Kashmiri Pandits, stated the letter submitted to Minister of State PMO Jitendra Singh.
“The Delimitation Act 2002 lays emphasis on Census (Section 8) and compactness of Geography (Section 9) for delineation of Assembly or Parliamentary Constituencies. For the reasons mentioned, herein, above both Census and the Geography elude them. There has been no head count of them, nor do they have the Geographic compactness to live in the present, with the result KPs stand thrown out of the electoral regime. This amounts to their disenfranchisement and denial of citizenry rights which are available to their compatriots in the country,” the representation has said.
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