DRAFT CONSTITUTION 763
Mr. President : You do not wish to say anything. Dr. Ambedkar ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No Sir. It is not necessary for me to say anything.
Mr. President : Then I will put the amendments to vote now.
[Dr. Ambedkar’s amendment was adopted. Article 276, as amended was added to the Constitution.]
ARTICLES 188, 277-A, 278 AND 278-A
*Mr. President : Then we come to article 277.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I would like to hold article 277 back, for the present.
Mr. President : Shall we then take up article 277-A 7 Article 277 is held back for the present and we take up article 277-A now.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Sir, I think it would be better if the three amendments were taken together, namely, amendment to drop article 188, introduction of a new article 277-A and the substitution of the old article 278 by the two new articles 278 and 278-A because they are cognate matters. They might be put separately for voting purposes. But for discussion, I think they might be taken together.
Mr. President : Articles 188, 278 and 278-A may be taken together because they deal with cognate matters and it would be better if the discussion of all the articles is taken up together, although we may put them to vote separately.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Sir, I move :
“That article 188 he deleted.”
Sir, I move:
“That after article 277, the following new article be inserted :—
Duty of the Union to protect state against external aggression and internal disturbance.
‘277-A. It shall be the duty of the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the Government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution’.”
And then, Sir, I move amendment No. 160 of List II, which reads as follows:
“That for article 278, the following articles be substituted : —
Provisions in case of failure Constitutional machinery in State.
- (1) If the President, on receipt of a report from the Governor or Ruler of a State or otherwise, is satisfied that the Government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, the President may by Proclamation—
(a) assume to himself all or any of the functions of the Government of the State and all or any of the powers vested in or exercisable by the Governor or
*CAD, Vol. IX, dated 3rd August 1949, pp. 130-35.