DRAFT CONSTITUTION 557
Mr. President : Then I put the whole article as amended by Dr. Ambedkar’s amendment.
The question is :
“ That article 68, as amended, stand part of the Constitution.”
The Motion was adopted. Article 68 as amended was added to the Constitution.
ARTICLE 68-A
*Mr. President : Now I come to the new article sought to be put in article 68-A. Dr. Ambedkar.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Mr. President, Sir, I beg to move:
“ That the following new article be inserted after article 68 :—
‘ 68-A. A person shall not be qualified to be chosen to fill a seat in Parliament unless he—
(a) is a citizen of India;
(b) is, in the case of a seat in the Council of States, not less than thirty-five years of age and, in the case of a seat in the House of the People, not less than twenty-five years of age, and
(c) possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed in this behalf by or under any law made by Parliament.’ ”
Sir, the object of the article is to prescribe qualifications for a person who wants to be a candidate at an election. Generally, the rule is that a person who is a voter, merely by reason of the fact that he is a voter, becomes entitled to stand as a candidate for election. In this article, it is proposed that while being a voter is an essential qualification for being a candidate a voter who wishes to be a candidate must also satisfy some additional qualifications. These additional qualifications are laid down in this new article 68-A.
I think the House will agree that it is desirable that a candidate who actually wishes to serve in the Legislature should have some higher qualifications than merely being a voter. The functions that he is required to discharge in the House require experience, certain amount of knowledge and practical experience in the affairs of the world, and I think if these additional qualifications are accepted, we shall be able to secure the proper sort of candidates who would be able to serve the House better than a mere ordinary voter might do.
†Shri T. T. Krishnamachari : ...Much has been made about this rather trifling point by saying that the amendment of Dr. Ambedkar is mischievous and iniquitous. I do hope that the House would realise that
*CAD, Vol. VIII, 18th May 1949, p. 89.
† Ibid., p. 94.