L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 619
Divisional Officers (gazetted and non-gazetted) employed in the Central Public Works Department inclusive of the Aviation and Access Road Works ?
(b) Is it a fact that Muslims are under-represented in each of the cadres mentioned above ? If so, what action do Government propose to take to make up the under-representation of Muslims ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) A statement is placed on the table, (b) Yes. The under-representation of Muslims is due to the fact that most of the appointments were made for Aviation works which were urgent and important and required a large number of experienced and qualified officers. Owing to the Japanese threat to India, these officers were required at the shortest notice, and appointments according to the strict communal roster would have led to delay which would have been highly prejudicial to the defence of the country. All the appointments in regard to which communal rules have not been observed, are temporary only, and irregularities will be put right as soon as the present emergency ceases.
Statement
Designation of Eruo- Anglo- Hin- Mus- Sikhs Indian Parsees Total Officers peans Indians dus lims Christians
Superintending Engineers 5 … 3 … 2 … … 10
Executive Engineers 12 4 35 5 1 5 … 62
Sub-Divisional Officers Gazetted (Assistant Executive Engineers) 1 5 25 6 2 4 … 43
Sub-Divisional Officers Gazetted (Temporary Officers) … 4 43 4 3 … 1 55
Sub-Divisional Officers (Non-gazetted) … 3 124 23 22 1 … 173
Maulvi Syed Murtuza Sahib Bahadur : Are we to understand that when urgent appointments are made, it is only the unfortunate, Muslim community that has to suffer ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : That is not the only unfortunate community; there are other communities which are equally affected.