DRAFT CONSTITUTION 1219
(A DOPTION OF THE C ONSTITUTION )
*President (Dr. Rajendra Prasad) : ...Before I close, I must express my thanks to all the Members of this August Assembly from whom I have received not only courtesy but, if I may say so, also their respect and affection. Sitting in the chair and watching the proceeding from day to day, I have realised as nobody else could have, with rare what zeal and devotion the members of the Drafting committee and especially its Chairman, Dr. Ambedkar, in spite of his indifferent health, have worked. (Cheers). We could never make a decision which was or could be ever so right as when we put him on the Drafting Committee and made him its Chairman. He has not only justified his selection but has added lustre to the work which he has done. In this connection, it would be invidious to make any distinction as among the other members of the Committee. I know they have all worked with the same zeal and devotion as its Chairman, and they deserve the thanks of the country....
All deserve my thanks as I have received courtesy, co-operation and legal service from all. (Prolonged cheers).
It now remains to put the motion which was moved by Dr. Ambedkar, to the vote of the House. The question is :
“That the Constitution as settled by the Assembly be passed.”
The motion was adopted. ( Prolonged Cheers ).
[President then authenticated the Constitution. The House gave authority to the President to call another session in January 1950 by a voice vote. The honourable Members then shook hands with Mr. President one by one.]
(The Constituent Assembly had also legislative functions. These legislative functions encompassed usual parliamentary business, including amendments to various laws. Dr. Ambedkar’s speeches relating to those legislations including the Hindu Code Bill, as distinguished from the framing of India’s Constitution, are included in the next volume — Vasant Moon)
*CAD, Official Report, Vol. XI, 26th November 1949, p. 994.