Depoliticize Election Process & Ensure Democratic Transparency
By Somapala Gunadheera –March 16, 2016
Somapala Gunadheera
According to the amended Local Government Elections Ordinance, which was passed unanimously in Parliament along with the Local Authorities (Special Provisions) Bill recently, a National Delimitation Committee consisting of five persons has been appointed by the Minister of Local Government, to delimit the electoral wards involved. The Minister derives that power from Section 3A. (1) of the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) 1 Act, No. 22 of 2012 which reads, “The Minister shall, upon the coming into operation of this section, by Order published in the Gazette, establish a National Delimitation Committee which shall consist of five persons to be appointed by the Minister”.
Under Section 3C of the said Act, upon receipt of the report of a National Delimitation Committee, the Minister shall by a Notification published in the Gazette, publish the number of wards the boundaries, names and the numbers assigned to each ward so created on the recommendation made by the National Delimitation Committee in respect of each respective local authority. These provisions leave the power to appoint the Delimitation Committee and to implement its recommendations entirely in the Minister’s hand. Any delay in finalizing the process, naturally leaves room for his political opponents to blame the Minister for manipulating the election process to the advantage of his Party. The United Opposition is capitalizing on the delay to hold local authorities elections by alleging that the Government is deliberately postponing elections for fear of losing them, taking cover under the delimitation process.
In India, delimitation is a function of an independent commission. Section 3 of the India Delimitation Act 2002 states, “As soon as may be after the commencement of this Act, the Central Government shall constitute a Commission to be called the Delimitation Commission which shall consist of three members as follows: – (a) one member, who shall be a person who is or has been a judge of the Supreme Court, to be appointed by the Central Government who shall be the Chairperson of the Commission; (b) the Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner nominated by the Chief Election Commissioner. ex officio”. The Constitution of Pakistan charges the Election Commission with Delimitation of constituencies.
