NEW DELHI: The Delimitation Commission, in its final delimitation order for Jammu and Kashmir notified on Thursday, has made fresh changes in the nomenclature or boundaries of 30 assembly constituencies across 13 districts of the Union territory.
While the nomenclature of 13 constituencies stands revised, patwari circles or tehsils have been included or excluded across 21 assembly constituencies as they appeared in the last delimitation draft put out in March 2022.
The changes were made by the commission – headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai and comprising chief election commissioner Sushil Chandra and J&K state election commission chief K K Sharma — after considering the suggestions and objections of the public, political representatives and other stakeholders during public hearings conducted by the delimitation panel in Jammu and Srinagar on April 4 and 5.
The delimitation award was finalised in two years and two months. On Thursday, Justice (Retd) Desai and other members signed the delimitation order ahead of the notification.
Among the key changes from the last delimitation draft out in March 2022 are revised nomenclatures of 13 assembly constituencies (ACs), including 7 in Jammu division and 6 in Kashmir division. In Srinagar district, Sonwar AC will now be known as Lal Chowk AC after the iconic Lal Chowk tower, while Zoonimar AC will be called Zadibal AC.
In Anantnag district, Bijbehra AC has been renamed as Srigufwara-Bijbehra AC. Similarly, in Baramulla district, Kunzar AC will be rechristened as Wagoora-Kreeri, Tangmarg AC as Gulmarg AC and Rohama-Rafiabad AC as Rafiabad AC.
