DRAFT CONSTITUTION 625
information. If I may say so, I think I might tell the House how the affairs are run at the Centre. So far as my information goes all cabinet papers are sent to the Governor-General. Similarly, there are what are called weekly summaries which are prepared by every Ministry of the decisions taken in each Ministry on important subjects relating to public affairs. These summaries which come to the Cabinet, also go to the Governor-General. If, for instance, the Governor-General, on seeing the weekly summaries sent up by the departments finds that a Minister, without reference to the cabinet has taken a decision on a particular subject which he thinks is not good, is there any wrong if the Governor-General is empowered to say that this particular decision which has been taken by an individual Minister without consulting the rest of the Ministers should be reconsidered by the Cabinet ? I cannot see what harm there can be, I cannot see what sort of interference that would constitute in the administration of the affairs of the Government. I therefore, submit that the criticisms levelled against this article are based upon either a misreading of this article or upon some misconception which is in the minds of the people that this article is going to give the Governor the power to interfere in the administration. Nothing of the sort is intended and such a result I am sure will not follow from the language of the article 147. All that the article does is to place the Governor in a position to enable him to perform, what I say, not functions because he has none, but the duties which every good Governor ought to discharge. ( Cheers. )
Shri H. V. Kamath : May I ask Dr. Ambedkar some questions ?
Mr. President: What is the use of asking question now ? You had your chance.
Shri H. V. Kamath : Dr. Ambedkar said that I could put questions at the end of his speech.
Mr. President : I do not like this practice of putting questions at the end of the discussions. All questions have been answered. I will now put the article to vote as there is no amendment to this.
Mr. President : The question is :
“That article 147 stand part of the Constitution.”
The motion was adopted.
Article 147 was added to the Constitution.