So, the makers of our Constitution thought of a special system of reserved constituencies for the weaker sections. Some constituencies are reserved for people who belong to the Scheduled Castes [SC] and Scheduled Tribes [ST]. In a SC reserved constituency only someone who belongs to the Scheduled Castes can stand for election. Similarly, only those belonging to the Scheduled Tribes can contest an election from a constituency reserved for ST. Currently, in the LokSabha, 84 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 47 for the Scheduled Tribes (as on 1 September 2012). This number is in proportion to their share in the total population. Thus, the reserved seats for SC and ST do not takeaway the legitimate share of any other social group.
This system of reservation was extended later to other weaker sections at the district and local level. In many states, seats in rural (panchayat) and urban (municipalities and corporations) local bodies are now reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBC) as well. However, the proportion of seats reserved varies from state to state. Similarly, one-third of the seats are reserved in rural and urban local bodies for women candidates.
Answer these questions:
(a) How many seats are reserved for SC, ST and OBC in Lok Sabha?
(b) What are reserved constituency? What is its importance?
Answers
Answer:
Ans-1 Some seats are reserved in Lok Sabha for the members of the Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes. As per the order issued by the Delimitation Commission in 2008 , 412 are general, 84 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 47 seats for the Scheduled Tribes.
Ans-2 Reserved constituencies are constituencies that are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and only they can contest an election.
Importance of reserved constituency:-
1. The Constitution makers were concerned that in an open electoral competition, certain weaker sections may not get elected to the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies.
2. They may not have the required resources, education and contacts to contest and win elections against others.
3. Those who are powerful and capable may stop them from winning elections.
4. Hence, the makers of our Constitution thought of a special system of reserved constituencies for the weaker sections.