Section 4: Section 4 – Filling of Seats in the House of the People and Parliamentary Constituencies

Overview

Section 4 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, lays down the fundamental principle of how Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected to the Lok Sabha (House of the People). It clarifies that each MP represents a specific geographical area – a parliamentary constituency – and that these constituencies are defined through a legal process called delimitation.

Key Provisions

• Direct Election: MPs are directly elected by the people living within their respective parliamentary constituencies. This means citizens vote directly for the person they want to represent them in Parliament.
• Single-Member Constituencies: Each parliamentary constituency elects only one MP.
• Territorial Boundaries: The exact geographical boundaries of each constituency are determined by orders issued under the Delimitation Act, 2002 (for most states) and the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008 (for certain North-Eastern States). These orders legally define which areas fall within each constituency.

Impact on Voters and Electoral Rolls

Section 4 directly impacts citizens by defining where they vote. Your parliamentary constituency determines which candidate you can vote for. The delimitation process, referenced in this section, affects the structure of constituencies. When constituencies are redrawn (delimited), voters may find themselves in a different constituency, and therefore eligible to vote for a different MP. This also impacts the preparation of electoral rolls, as rolls must be updated to reflect the new constituency boundaries.

Practical Examples

• Example 1: Let's say you live in Delhi. Section 4 means you will vote for a candidate contesting from a specific Lok Sabha constituency within Delhi (e.g., New Delhi, East Delhi). The boundaries of that constituency, defining exactly which areas are included, are determined by the Delimitation Order.
• Example 2: After the Delimitation Act, 2002, some constituencies in Uttar Pradesh were redrawn. This meant that certain villages previously part of one constituency were moved to another. Residents of those villages then had to register on the electoral roll of their new constituency to be able to vote for a different MP.

Related Sections / Rules

This section works closely with: Section 3 (Allocation of Seats to States), which determines the number of seats each state gets in the Lok Sabha. Section 7 (Nomination of Candidates) builds upon this by outlining the process for candidates to contest elections within these defined constituencies. The Registration of Electors Rules, 1962 are crucial for maintaining accurate electoral rolls aligned with the constituency boundaries established under Section 4 and the Delimitation Acts.