376 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
If that proposition is accepted—and I do not see anyone who cares for Fundamental Rights can object to such a universal obligation being imposed upon every authority created by law—then, what are we to do to make our intention clear ? There are two ways of doing it. One way is to use a composite phrase such as “the State”, as we have done in article 7 ; or, to keep on repeating every time, “the Central Government, the Provincial Government, the State Government, the Municipality, the Local Board, the Port Trust, or any other authority”. It seems to me not only most cumbersome but stupid to keep on repeating this phraseology every time we have to make a reference to some authority. The wisest course is to have this comprehensive phrase and to economise in words. I hope that my friend will now understand why we have used the word “State” in this article and why this article must stand as part of this Constitution.
Mr. Vice-President : I will now put tins amendment to the vote. First of all, we have amendment No. 21 of Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad, which is an amendment to amendment No. 246.
The question is :
“That with reference to amendment No. 246 of the List of Amendments, in article 7 the words” and all local or other authorities, within the territory of India or under the control of the Government of India “he deleted.”
The motion was negatived.
Mr. Vice-President : The next amendment is No. 246 moved by Dr. Ambedkar.
The question is : that the following words be added at the end of article 7 :
“or under the control of the Government of India.”
The motion was adopted.
[Two more amendments were negatived.]
Article 7, as amended, was added to the Constitution.
ARTICLE 8
- Mr. Vice-President : We have a quarter of an hour more. We can resume discussion of article 8 of the Draft Constitution.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra (West Bengal : General) : We may adjourn now.
Mr. Vice-President : Our time is valuable. We should not waste a quarter of an hour.
*CAD, Vol. VII, 26th November 1948, p. 640.