LABOUR POLICY OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 251
Mr. Sami Vancatachelam Chetty (Madras : Indian Commerce): Sir, I move that the question be now put.
Several Honourable Members : The question may now be put.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Sir, I cannot be disturbed in this fashion.
Mr. Deputy President (Mr. Akhil Chandra Datta): Order, order. Closure motion can be moved only after the speech is finished. I have done all that I possibly could to help the Opposition with regard to the next motion, but I have no option now.
Mr. Abdul Qaiyum : Sir, on a point of order, the Government Member can speak for 20 minutes or more. But the point is, is it to be left to the sweet will of the Government Member himself to spin out his speech to inordinate lengths ? Or is it for the Chair to decide whether the Honourable Member has had sufficient time or not ? I contend that this power lies solely with the Chair and the Government Member cannot be allowed to spin out his speech to any length he likes. I contend he has had sufficient time.
Mr. Deputy President (Mr. Akhil Chandra Datta) : It is a very delicate thing for me to say that he has had enough time to speak or that he is taking time deliberately.
Several Honourable Members : The question may now be put.
Mr. Sami Vencatachelam Chetty : I rise to a point of order. Evidently the Chair is under the impression that I cannot move the motion for closure, but I think this time as the Honourable Member has resumed his seat I can move the closure motion.
Mr. Deputy President (Mr. Akhil Chandra Datta): It is a convention that closure motion cannot be moved when a member is speaking. But the point is that the Honourable Member did not take his seat because he had finished his speech but because he was interrupted.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Then, Sir, Mr. Joshi said that the Labour Department was short-staffed. I am rather surprised how Mr. Joshi came to make that statement. I would like to inform the house about the staff which has been employed by the Labour Department quite recently. So far as the coal Mines are concerned, we have got the Chief Executive Officer for the Coal Mines Welfare Committee. He has got a Chief Welfare Officer under him and under