DRAFT CONSTITUTION 855
Mr. President : The point of Order taken is that what was decided at the time of reconsideration of the articles relating to minorities referred only to reservation of seats and that the question of services was not taken into consideration and that point was not decided.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : As I understand it, the decision was that they were not minorities and therefore they are not to have either of the two privileges.
ARTICLE 299
*The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Sir, I beg to move :
“That for article 299, the following article be substituted :—
‘299. (I) There shall be a Special Officer for minorities to be appointed by Special Officer for minorities the Special Officer, President.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Special Officer to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for minorities under this Constitution and to report to the President upon the working of the safeguards at such intervals as the president may direct, and the President shall cause all such reports to be laid before each House of Parliament.’ ”
The original article provided that there should be a minority officer both in the Centre and in each of the provinces. It is now felt that, as the number of minorities has been considerably reduced, it is not desirable to have a cumbrous provision like that for having an officer in each province. The purpose of the original article will be carried out if the Centre appoints an officer and makes him report to the President.
THIRD SCHEDULE
†The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Sir, I move :
“That in the Third Schedule, in Form I of the Declarations, for the words and brackets solemnly affirm (or swear)’, the following be substituted :—
‘solemnly affirm
swear in the name of God.’ ”
Sir, I also move :
“That in the Third Schedule, in Form II of the Declarations, for the words and brackets solemnly affirm (or swear)’, the following be substituted :—
‘solemnly affirm swear in the name of God.’ ”
“That in the Third Schedule, in Form III of the Declarations,—
(a) for the word ‘declaration’ the words ‘affirmation or oath’ be substituted;
“CAD, Vol. IX, 26th August 1949, p. 703.
† Ibid. pp. 706-707.