DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 259
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Then there is the amendment by Master Nand Lal that the consideration of the Bill be postponed to the Budget Session of
Master Nand Lal (East Punjab : General): I am not moving it.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : These three withdrawals clear the ground. By whatever name they may be called, these three motions, substantially are for adjournment of the debate. I thought that, before the Honourable Law Minister, the mover of the Bill proceeds the movers of these motions must have risen in their seats and pressed for the taking up of these motions, because, before their motions are disposed of, the honourable mover could not be allowed to speak. Inasmuch as they were not moved, I kept quiet. Now it is clear they are withdrawn. The other motions viz, those for re-circulation or for reference to Select Committee, whatever their nature might be, they are motions which under the Rules any person is competent to make. It is a question for the House to deal with them. So far as the Select Committee motions are concerned, I must be satisfied in the first instance, about their need. Apart from that, there is a motion for recirculation with respect to which some such requirements have not been laid down, so far as I can see in any rule or rulings. Therefore, I propose at this stage to allow the mover of the Bill to make his speech and after he concludes his speech, allow the motions for Select Committee and Circulation to be moved without any speech. Then, the discussion will go on on all the motions and I will put them one after another to the House.
- The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am obliged for your guidance, Sir. As usual when presenting a motion for the consideration of a Bill as reported by the Select Committee it is the duty of the Chairman of the Select Committee, in the first instance, to draw the attention of the house to such changes as may have been made by the Select Committee in the original Bill which has been referred to the Select Committee. I propose to follow that procedure in the first instance.
Sir, the first part of the Bill deals with marriage and divorce. So far as this part of the Bill is concerned, the Select Committee has added two clauses which relate to the restitution of conjugal rights and to judicial separation. These provisions specifically absent from the original Bill. The draftsmen of the original Bill felt themselves content by reference to the Indian Divorce Act of 1869 which contains provisions relating to the restitution of conjugal rights and judicial
*C.A. (Leg.) D., Vol. II, Part II, 24th February 1949, pp. 826-43.