Section 3: Section 3 – Allocation of Seats in the House of the People (Lok Sabha)

Overview

Section 3 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, is the foundational law determining how many Members of Parliament (MPs) each state gets to send to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament). It also establishes how many of those seats are specifically reserved for candidates from the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities. This section is crucial for understanding the structure of Indian elections and ensuring fair representation.

Key Provisions

• Seat Allocation to States: This section links the total number of Lok Sabha seats to the First Schedule of the Act. The First Schedule lists the states and the number of seats allocated to each.
• Reservation for SC/ST: Section 3 also specifies the number of seats reserved for SC and ST candidates in each state. This reservation aims to ensure that historically disadvantaged communities have a voice in Parliament.
• First Schedule as the Authority: The First Schedule is the primary document defining seat allocation and reservation. Any changes to the number of seats or reservations require amendments to the First Schedule.

Impact on Voters and Electoral Rolls

Section 3 directly impacts voters by determining the number of representatives they elect to the Lok Sabha. The allocation of seats influences the size of each parliamentary constituency. While it doesn’t directly deal with the creation of electoral rolls, the number of constituencies defined by Section 3 dictates *how many* electoral rolls need to be prepared and maintained. A state with more seats will have more constituencies and therefore more electoral rolls.

Practical Examples

• Example 1: Let's say the First Schedule states that Uttar Pradesh has 80 Lok Sabha seats, with 17 reserved for Scheduled Castes. This means voters in Uttar Pradesh will elect 80 MPs, and 17 of those seats can only be contested by SC candidates.
• Example 2: If a state's population grows significantly after a census, it might request an increase in its Lok Sabha seats. This request would require an amendment to the First Schedule of the Act, changing the number of seats allocated to that state as per Section 3. The delimitation commission would then redraw constituency boundaries to reflect the new seat allocation.

Related Sections / Rules

Section 3 works closely with several other parts of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and related rules. Section 4 deals with the delimitation of constituencies. Section 7 discusses the consequences of the delimitation. The Registration of Electors Rules, 1962 are crucial for preparing electoral rolls within each constituency defined by the seat allocation and delimitation processes outlined in Sections 3, 4 and 7.