Why constitution provides for reservation
of seats in the Lok Sabha and state
legislative Assemblies for schedule Caste
and schedule Tribe? explain
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
A number of seats in the Parliament of India, State Assemblies, urban and rural-level institutions are reserved for the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). Though seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, they are elected by all the voters in a constituency, without any separate electorate. Also a member of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is not debarred from contesting a general i.e. non-reserved seat. This system was introduced by the Constitution of India in 1950 and was supposed to be in place for the first 10 years, to ensure participation in politics by these groups which were deemed weak, marginalised, under-represented and needing special protection. Under 104th amendment to the Constitution of India, this reservation is to last until 2030 and subject to extension with further constitutional amendment.
The population figure of Scheduled Castes in percentage terms with reference to the total population figure had increased from 14.6% in 1971 census to 16.2% in 2001 census. Similarly, the population figure of Scheduled Tribes had increased from 6.9% in 1971 census to 8.2% in 2001 census. The overall increase of population figure of SC and ST in 2001 census has led the Delimitation Commission to increase the seats for Scheduled Castes in Lok Sabha from 79 to 84 and for Scheduled Tribes from 41 to 47 out of 543 constituencies, as per Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008.
Allocation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha are made on the basis of proportion of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the State concerned to that of the total population, provide provision contained in Article 330 of the Constitution of India read with Section 3 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951[citation needed].