TCN News
Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind General Secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani filed a petition to the Supreme Court questioning the Central government on the exercise of delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Assam.
In a latest official comment by Maulana Madani, the Jamiat secretary has contended government’s decision to conduct the pending process of delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies, calling it “a hasty decision” and “contrary to the main purpose of delimitation.”
The Jamiat had challenged the Centre in February through a writ petition to the Supreme Court when the process of delimitation had resumed despite the fact the reasons for which the previous delimitation in 2008 was deferred are still prevailing in the State. It also noted that earlier, in 2002, on the representation of State of Assam, the process of delimitation of constituencies for the State of Assam was deferred in 2008 in the absence of true configuration of the population in Assam and citing the reason of the threat to peace, public order, and unity and integrity of India. The aforesaid issues “have not been resolved so far,” the Jamiat said in its original petition.
Maulana Madani further said that Census 2012 is next year and it would be the most recent, so the current resumption of Delimitation exercise in Assam “serves no purpose being based on old data of Census 2001.” He has also accused the Centre by stating “the whole affair smacked of a government ill intention.”
On behalf of the Jamiat, Shakil Ahmad Syed, assisted by Md Parvez Dabas, Uzmi Jameel Husain and Daanish Ahmad Syed argued the petition before the Supreme Court issued notices based on which the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta issued notices to the respondents and Ministry of Law and Justice on constituting the Delimitation Commission. The proceedings called it “conducive” also for the reason that the preparation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), in Assam has not been finalized and more than 19 lakh persons remain excluded from NRC waiting to prove their citizenship before Foreigners Tribunals.
In addition, Jamiat also argued that “NRC is being prepared based on Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, and vires of Section 6A itself is under challenge before the Court.” The same argument was made about Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that led to violent protests in the entire country including the State of Assam, due to which several organizations of Assam have challenged the said before the Court, the proceedings for which are still pending.
Maulana Madani also highlighted that the Jamiat stands opposing the CAA, and has challenged its constitutionality in Court and until the above are resolved, the Delimitation exercise in Assam state cannot be initiated.