PRESIDENT'S ASSENT TO THREE BILLS
The President has given
his assent to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2002, the Delimitation Bill,
2002 and the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament
(Amendment) Bill, 2002. With this, these three Bills, passed during
the Budget session of Parliament ending May 17, 2002, have been
notified in the Gazette of India as Act Nos. 32, 33 and 34 respectively
of the year 2002.
The Constitution (Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes ) Orders (Amendment) Act, 2002 seeks to include
oustees of Sardar Sarovar Project from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra,
such as, Balahi, Balai, Bhangi, Mehtar, Chamar, Chikwa, Chikvi,
Koli,Kori and Kotwal as Scheduled Castes in Gujarat. It also seeks
to include Bhil, Bhilala, Barela, Patelia, Bhil, Tadvi Bhil, Pawra,
Vasave and Padvi as Scheduled Tribes in Gujarat. The inclusion
of these oustee castes as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
in Gujarat will entitle them to all the benefits as are admissible
to them in the scheme of Constitution and rule of law.
The Delimitation Act, 2002 seeks to
set up a Delimitation Commission for effecting delimitation of
Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies on the basis of 1991
census to correct the distortion in the sizes of electoral constituencies.
The Commission will also refix the number of seats for Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes as per the 1991 census without affecting
total number of seats based on the census of 1971. Besides laying
down guidelines for delimitation, the Commission will carry out
delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies within
two years. Thereafter, elections to Parliament and State Assemblies
will be held after the report of the Delimitation Commission is
published on that basis.
The Salary,
Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Act,
2002, seeks to enhance the pension of former Members of Parliament
(Lok Sabha) who did not complete four years, from the existing
Rs. 2500 per month to Rs. 3000 per month with retrospective effect
from September 14, 2001.
