(1) The total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of Gujarat to be filled by persons chosen by direct election on the expiration of the duration of that Assembly under section 16 or on its dissolution shall be increased from 132 to 154; and accordingly, as from the date of such expiration or dissolution, in the Second Schedule to the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950), in entry 4, for the figures "132", the figures "154" shall be substituted.
(2) For the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Election Commission shall determine in the manner hereinafter provided—
(a) the number of seats to be reserved for the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes of the State in the Legislative Assembly, having regard to the relevant provisions of the Constitution;
[(b) the assembly constituencies into which the State shall be divided, the extent of each of such constituencies and in which of them seats shall be reserved for the scheduled castes or for the scheduled tribes; and]
(c) the adjustments in the boundaries and description of the extent of the parliamentary constituencies in the State that may be necessary or expedient.
[(3) In determining the matters referred to in clauses (b) and (c) of sub-section (2), the Election Commission shall have regard to the following provisions, namely:—
(a) all the constituencies shall be single-member constituencies;
(b) all the constituencies shall, as far as practicable, be geographically compact areas and in delimiting them regard shall be had to physical features, existing boundaries of administrative units, facilities of communication and public convenience; and
(c) constituencies in which seats are reserved either for the scheduled castes or for the scheduled tribes shall, as far as practicable, be located in the areas in which the population of the scheduled castes or, as the case may be, of the scheduled tribes is most concentrated, but in regard to scheduled castes, care should be taken to distribute the reserved seats in different areas of the State.]
(4) For the purpose of assisting the Election Commission in the performance of its functions under sub-section (2), the Commission shall associate with itself such five persons as the Central Government shall by order specify, being persons who are members either of the Legislative Assembly of the State or of the House of the People representing the State:
Provided that none of the said associate members shall have a right to vote or to sign any decision of the Election Commission.
(5) The Election Commission shall—
(a) publish its proposals in regard to matters mentioned in sub-section (2) in the Official Gazette of the State together with a notice specifying the date on or after which the proposals will be further considered by it;
(b) consider all objections and suggestions which may have been received by it before the date so specified, and for the purpose of such consideration, hold one or more public sittings at such place or places as it thinks fit;
(c) make an order revising to such extent as may be necessary or expedient the Schedules to the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 1956, in so far as they relate to the State; and
(d) send authenticated copies of the order to the Central Government and to the State Government.
(6) As soon as may be after the said order is received by the Central Government or the State Government, it shall be laid before the House of the People or, as the case may be, the Legislative Assembly of the State.
(7) An order made by the Election Commission under this section shall have the full force of law and shall not be called in question in any court.