The Supreme Court refused to permit delimitation in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana before the next Census. Which of the following BEST reflects the Court's interpretative reasoning?
Correct Answer: A — Delimitation in States is constitutionally frozen until the first Census after 2026, and statutory promises in the 2014 Act cannot override Article 170(3)
Explanation:
Article 170(3) of the Constitution mandates that readjustment of seats in State Legislative Assemblies shall occur only after completion of each Census, with a specific embargo on delimitation until after the first Census post-2026. The Court held that a parliamentary statute like the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, cannot override this constitutional bar — it can only operate within the constitutional framework.