DRAFT CONSTITUTION 355
Mr. Vice President : I find that there is an amendment, to add a new article 31-A, numbered 927 in the list, standing in the name of Shri K. Santhanam. This, as well as that amendment may be considered together. Is it the wish of the House that this may be done ?
Honourable Members : Yes.
ARTICLE 31
*Mr. Vice-President : The House will now take up article 31, for discussion.
Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad (West Bengal : Muslim) : Sir, I beg to move :
“That in clause (i) of article 31, the words ‘men and women equally’ be omitted.”
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I oppose the amendment, Sir.
†Shri S. V. Krishnamoorthy Rao (Mysore) : Sir, I move :
“That in clause (v) of article 31, for the words ‘that the strength and health’ the words ‘that the health and strength’ be substituted.”
My amendment is only in order to rearrange the phraseology. My only justification is that strength follows health and the phraseology sounds better, Sir, I move.
‡Shri Brajeshwar Prasad (Bihar : General) : May I speak, Sir ?
Mr. Vice-President: I am very sorry. I think there has been sufficient discussion. Dr. Ambedkar.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Mr. Vice-President, Sir, of the many amendments that have been moved to this particular article, there are only four that remain for consideration. I will first take up the amendment of Mr. Krishnamoorthy Rao. It is a mere verbal amendment and I say straightaway that I am quite prepared to accept that amendment.
Then there remain the three amendments moved by my friend, Professor K. T. Shah. His first amendment is to substitute the words “every citizen” for the words “the citizens”. Now, if that was the
*CAD, (Official Report. Vol. VII, 22nd November 1948. p. 504.
† Ibid., p. 513.
‡ Ibid., p. 518.