K. PURUSHOTTAM REDDY Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These two Writ Petitions, instituted under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, assail the legality of Notification Nos. SO No. 1015(E) dtd. 6/3/2020 (2020 Notification) and SO 1023(E) dtd. 3/3/2021 (2021 Notification) (together referred to as the Impugned Notifications) issued by the Union of India through the Ministry of Law and Justice, Respondent No. 2, herein. It is the case of the Petitioner(s) that, by way of the Impugned Notifications, a delimitation exercise was conducted for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in an increase in the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly, albeit the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were excluded in an arbitrary fashion. The Petitioner(s) consequently seek a direction to Respondent Nos. 1-2 and 5 to similarly increase the number of seats in the Legislative Assemblies of the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in terms of the applicable statutory provisions.

(2.) Before adverting to the issues and contentions raised by the parties, we deem it appropriate to briefly narrate the factual background leading to these Writ Petitions.

(3.) Mr. Rao Ranjit, learned counsel for the Petitioner(s), argued that the non-inclusion of the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the delimitation process initiated through the 2020 Notification and restricting the delimitation exercise only for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is arbitrary, discriminatory and thus, unconstitutional.