z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-07.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 571
IN SUB-COMMITTEE NO. VI 571
was required. Therefore I suggest that any step taken in that direction should be devolution of complete power to the Government of India, to be exercised at its discretion to go into the whole question of franchise in a certain number of years. That is a point upon which I really desire to lay some stress.
† Dr. Ambedkar: It is now evident, at least to myself and some of my friends, that we shall have to record a note of dissent from certain propositions that will be placed before the Sub-Committee. Will it be permissible for us to submit to you a note of dissent on the various points, which you may be kind enough to append to the report, or will you allow us some other method?
Chairman: I do not think that up to the present any of the Sub-Committees have appended minority reports, as it were ; I think the report of the SubCommittee has been one report, but has indicated on its face that certain members—naming them if necessary—have dissented.
Dr. Ambedkar: I should like, with your permission to point out one disadvantage which I see in that procedure. If we are not allowed to record our minute of dissent, you do not give us an opportunity to put our suggestions in a concrete form, which we should like to do if we may be allowed to do so. We are allowed the negative liberty of saying we do not agree, and that is all.
Chairman : I am not sure we cannot meet you. I think you have made your objection quite clear. What you want really is adult suffrage, and I think we have got a sentence in to indicate that certain members of our Sub-Committee—naming them—objected to this because they thought the system of adult suffrage was the only satisfactory system. That states the point.
Dr. Ambedkar: What we should do would depend on the report.
Chairman: Let us leave the difficulty until it arises, and then see if we cannot meet you. I think we can.
Fourth Sitting—1st January 1931
‡D RAFT R EPORT —P OINT 4
- Extension of the Franchise: While it was generally held that adult suffrage was the goal which should ultimately be attained, it was agreed that the basis of the franchise could forthwith be broadened and that a large increase was desirable.
Some difference of opinion existed as to the extent to which this was
† Proceedings of the Sub-Committee No. VI (Franchise), pp. 147-48.
‡ Ibid., pp. 149-50.