Tamil Nadu Delimitation Commission Act, 2017

What the Act governs

The Tamil Nadu Delimitation Commission Act, 2017 creates a Commission to make recommendations about territorial wards in rural and urban local bodies. It applies to Village Panchayats, Panchayat Unions, District Panchayats, Town Panchayats, Municipalities and Municipal Corporations.

For a property buyer or owner, the Act concerns the electoral ward in which an area falls. It does not set out rules for land ownership, registration, sale, planning permission or land use.

Delimitation Commission

The Tamil Nadu Delimitation Commission Act, 2017 provides that the State Government shall constitute the Delimitation Commission. Its headquarters must be within the limits of Chennai City Municipal Corporation.

The Commission consists of:

• The Tamil Nadu State Election Commissioner as ex-officio Chairman.
• The Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.
• The Commissioner of Municipal Administration.
• The Director of Town Panchayats.
• The Commissioner of Chennai City Municipal Corporation.
• The Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission as ex-officio Member-Secretary.

Main functions

The Tamil Nadu Delimitation Commission Act, 2017 authorises the Commission to recommend:

• The total number of elected members for every local body, based on the latest preceding census for which relevant figures have been published.
• Division of each local body into the required number of wards.
• Boundaries for each ward.
• Wards with populations that are, as far as practicable, equal within the local body.
• Geographically compact territorial wards, as far as practicable.
• Wards in which seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Women.

The Commission must also submit periodic reports to the State Government and perform other functions specified by the Government.

Powers and administration

The Tamil Nadu Delimitation Commission Act, 2017 gives the Commission specified powers of a civil court. It may summon witnesses, require documents, obtain public records and require information relevant to matters under consideration.

The Commission determines its procedure, may authorise members to exercise specified powers and decides differences of opinion by majority. Temporary absence of a member or a vacancy does not by itself invalidate its proceedings.

The State Government may issue directions to the Commission. The Commission may make regulations with the Government's previous approval, including regulations concerning meetings and employees.