Article 170 - Composition of the Legislative Assemblies - Constitution of India

1 [Article 170. Composition of the Legislative Assemblies.- (1) Subject to the provisions of article 333, the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than five hundred, and not less than sixty, members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the State. (2) For the purposes of clause (1), each State shall be divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the State. 2 [ Explanation .- In this clause, the expression population means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published: Provided that the reference in this Explanation to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 4 [ 2026 ] have been published, be construed as a reference to the 8 [ 2001 ] census. ] (3) Upon the completion of each census, the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of each State and the division of each State into territorial constituencies shall be readjusted by such authority and in such manner as Parliament may by law determine: Provided that such readjustment shall not affect representation in the Legislative Assembly until the dissolution of the then existing Assembly:] 3 [ Provided further that such readjustment shall take effect from such date as the President may, by order, specify and until such readjustment takes effect, any election to the Legislative Assembly may be held on the basis of the territorial constituencies existing before such readjustment: Provided also that until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 6 [ 2026 ] have been published, it shall not be necessary to 7 [ readjust i) the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of each State as readjusted on the basis of the 1971 census; and ii) the division of such State into territorial constituencies as may be readjusted on the basis of the 9 [ 2001 ] census, under this clause ]] **************** NOTES:- 1 . Substituted vide Article 9 of the Constitution (7th Amendment) Act, 1956 dated 19-10-1956 w.e.f. 01-11-1956, before it was read as, 170. Composition of the Legislative Assemblies. (1) Subject to the provisions of Art. 333, the Legislative Assembly of each State shall be composed of members chosen by direct election. (2) The representation of each territorial constituency in the Legislative Assembly of a State shall be on the basis of the population of that constituency as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published and shall, save in the case of the autonomous districts of Assam and the constituency comprising the cantonment and municipality of Shillong, be on a scale of not more than one member for every seventy-five thousand of the population: Provided that the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of a State shall in no case be more than five hundred or less than sixty. (3) The ratio between the number of members to be allotted to each territorial constituency in a State and the population of that constituency as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the State. (4) Upon the completion of each census, the representation of the several territorial constituencies in the Legislative Assembly of each State shall be readjusted by such authority, in such manner and with effect from such date as Parliament may by law determine: Provided that such readjustment shall not affect representation in the Legislative Assembly until the dissolution of the then existing Assembly. 2 . Substituted vide Article 29 of the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976 dated 18-12-1976 w.e.f. 03-01-1977, before it was read as, Explanation. In this clause, the expression population means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published. 3 . Inserted vide Article 29 of the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976 dated 18-12-1976 w.e.f. 03-01-1977. 4 . Substituted vide Article 5 of the Constitution (84th Amendment) Act, 2001 dated 21-02-2002 w.e.f. 21-02-2002, before it was read as, 2000 5 . Substituted vide Article 5 of the Constitution (84th Amendment) Act, 2001 dated 21-02-2002 w.e.f. 21-02-2002, before it was read as, 1971 6 . Substituted vide Article 5 of the Constitution (84th Amendment) Act, 2001 dated 21-02-2002 w.e.f. 21-02-2002, before it was read as, 2000 7 . Substituted vide Article 5 of the Constitution (84th Amendment) Act, 2001 dated 21-02-2002 w.e.f. 21-02-2002, before it was read as, readjust the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of each State and the division of such State into territorial constituencies under this clause. 8 . Substituted vide Article 4 of the Constitution (87th Amendment) Act, 2003 dated 22-06-2003 w.e.f. 22-06-2002, before it was read as, 5 [ 1991 ] 9 . Substituted vide Article 4 of the Constitution (87th Amendment) Act, 2003 dated 22-06-2003 w.e.f. 22-06-2002, before it was read as, 1991