z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-08.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 616
616 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
†Mr. Zafrullah Khan: My submission, therefore, is that, having regard to the proposed strength—though I do not know whether that relative strength will be maintained—it is only consistent with the views expressed so far that the majority required should not be a simple majority or even an absolute majority of the total number of Members of both Houses, but a higher majority than that.
Dr. Ambedkar: Would Mr. Zafrullah Khan permit either Chamber sitting separately to decide upon measures by a simple majority or would he require an actual majority of the Members in that case ?
Mr. Zafrullah Khan: A simple majority.
Dr. Ambedkar: Then I do not see why they should not decide questions by simple majority when they are sitting together.
Sir Muhammad Shaft: Because there is a difference of opinion between the two Houses.
Mr. Zafrullah Khan: Very often Members are not able to see the points of view of other Members; but one reason will be that the character of the two Houses will be different.
‡ Sardar Ujjal Singh: So far as money matters are concerned, I would like to give a few illustrations from present day federations. Take first the Dominion of Canada, a Member of the British Commonwealth. There, Sir, section 53, which has already been pointed out by various speakers, only says that —
“Bills for appropriating any Part of the Public Revenue, or for imposing, any Tax or Impost, shall originate in the House of Commons.” In Canada the powers of the two Chambers have not been definitely defined. The reason for this is that, under section 18, it is laid down that Canada will follow generally the British model. It says :
“The Privileges, Immunities, and Powers to be held, enjoyed, and exercised.......”
Dr. Ambedkar: That has no relevancy to this ; it is a privilege inside the House.
Sardar Ujjal Singh: I beg your pardon.
“The Privileges, Immunities, and Powers to be held, enjoyed, and exercised by the Senate and by the House of Commons...........”
it does not mean the Members of the House of Commons.
Dr. Ambedkar: No, Sir. If you refer to the Preamble, you will see there that the Canadian Constitution lays down that the Canadian Constitution shall be similar to that laid down in the United Kingdom ; and you will see that the relations between the House of Commons and the House of
†Proceedings of the Federal Structure Committee and Minorities Committee, Vol. I, p. 242.
‡ Ibid., p. 249.