DRAFT CONSTITUTION 365
Shri A. V. Thakkar (United Stales of Kathiawar : Saurashtra) : Sir, I beg to move this amendment (983) which asks for the inclusion of the backward castes among Hindus and among Muslims...
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : May I just make a statement ? I believe both these amendments dealing with the backward classes, etc. would be more appropriate to the Schedule and could be better considered when we dealt with the Schedule. I would suggest that the consideration of these amendments may be postponed.
Shri A. V. Thakkar : My amendment seeks to lay down certain principles...
Mr. Vice-President : Dr. Ambedkar proposes to give the fullest possible consideration to these in the Schedule.
Shri A. V. Thakkar : Does he agree to include all backward classes ?
Mr. Vice-President : He can hardly agree to anything now. The matter is open to discussion later.
Shri A. V. Thakkar : Then I do not move my amendment now.
Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad : Sir, I am not moving my amendment No. 985. It merely seeks to use capital letters in the case of the Scheduled Castes. I would respectfully draw the attention of the Chairman of the Drafting Committee to article 303 (1), items (w) and (x) on page 147 of the Draft Constitution. We have there specified two definitions, ‘Scheduled Castes’ and ‘Scheduled Tribes’. ‘Scheduled Castes’ have everywhere been spelt with capital letters, but ‘Scheduled tribes’ have been spelt with small letters.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : We shall consider that.
Sardar Hukum Singh : I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.
The amendment was, by leave of the Assembly, withdrawn.
Article 37 was added to the Constitution.
ARTICLE 38
- Mr. Vice-President: We shall commence today’s proceedings with the consideration of the particular article with which we are concerned today in the Draft Constitution. The introduction of the Bill will be taken up after a little while.
*CAD, Vol. VII, 24th November 1948, p. 555