104 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
136 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY, FEB. 26,1948
reservation of seats in the Legislatures and of posts in the public services. Although these provisions do not extend to the Indian States, nevertheless, in the larger interests of India, the Indian States should adopt similar provisions for the minorities therein. The Drafting Committee has specially asked me to draw your attention to the importance of this matter.
First Schedule.
Fifth and Sixth Schedules
Linguistic Provinces.—I would invite special attention to Part I of the First Schedule and the footnote thereto. If Andhra or any other linguistic region is to be mentioned in this Schedule before the Constitution is finally adopted, steps will have to be taken immediately to make them into separate Governors’ Provinces under section 290 of the Government of India Act, 1935, before the Draft Constitution is finally passed. Of course, the new Constitution itself contains provisions for the creation of new States, but this will be after the new Constitution comes into operation.
Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas.—The Committee has embodied in the Schedules to the Constitution the recommendations of the Sub-Committees on these subjects.
A separate note recorded by Shri Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar on certain points (not involving any question of principle) is appended to the Draft at his request.
I cannot transmit to you this Draft Constitution without placing on record the Committee’s gratitude for the assistance the Committee has received in this difficult task from Sir B. N. Rau, the Constitutional Adviser, Shri S. N. Mukerjee, Joint Secretary and Draftsman, and the staff of the Constituent Assembly Secretariat.
Yours truly,
B. R. AMBEDKAR.