Delimitation Exercise In J&K Will Be Transparent: Commission Chief

Ranjana Prakash Desai, who heads the Delimitation Commission, was on a four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir along with its other members to gather "first hand" inputs on the conduct of the mega exercise.

The delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir will be transparent in nature and there should be no fears and doubts over it, Justice (retired) Ranjana Prakash Desai said on Friday, seeking to dispel apprehensions among a section of political leaders and people that it is a pre-planned exercise guided by the agenda of a political party. Ms Desai, who heads the Delimitation Commission, was on a four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir along with its other members to gather "first hand" inputs on the conduct of the mega exercise to redraw constituencies and carve out new ones in the union territory. The commission said the exercise would be done according to the Census of 2011 and that the 24 assembly seats falling in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will remain vacant and are out of its preview. "I assure you from myself and my colleagues that the exercise is going to be transparent as per laid down law. I do not think anybody should have any such apprehensions," Justice (retd) Desai told reporters here.