DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 253
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Member will kindly state his point of order. There need be no apology or argument. I should like to hear the point of order.
Shri Jaspat Roy Kapoor : My point of order relates firstly to the rights and privileges of the members of this House and secondly to the competency of this House in the present Session to deal with such an important and controversial measure as the Hindu Code Bill when a large number of members of this House are not attending and cannot attend, not for personal reasons, or party reasons, but for reasons of state and in the interest of the country as a whole, being at present busy in the provincial legislatures with the budget sessions, although they are very anxious and eager to attend this House and participate in the discussion of this motion materially affects the whole Hindu society.
Honourable Members : This is no point of order at all.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : I am here to decide whether it is a point of order or not. You will kindly bear with me. I expect he will conclude his sentence soon.
Shri Jaspat Roy Kapoor : I know many of my friends here are very impatient to proceed with the Bill. It was therefore, Sir, that I at the outset wanted to assure the House that my object is not to sabotage the Bill with many provisions of which I am in agreement. My object is that things should be done constitutionally, the right thing should be done at the right time and in the right manner. As you are aware ....
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have heard the point of order. The honourable Member feels that this House is not competent to proceed With this Bill. This is number one. Number two is that certain members, whom he would like to have in this House, are not here. Neither is a point of order against the motion for consideration being taken up. This is a sovereign Legislative Assembly fit to pass any legislation it likes. I have heard the point of order and do not want to hear any more arguments in favour of it. As regards the absence of some members, it is no doubt true that a number of members could not be here both from the Provinces and the States. But it is always open to them to come here and take part.
Babu Ramnarayan Singh (Bihar : General): May I say,….
Mr. Deputy Speaker: So far as the Chair is concerned and so far as this House is concerned, no such direction has been given and therefore the House is competent to proceed with its business. Honourable Members can come in at any time and take part in the debate. I rule out this point of order.