DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 555
Shri L. Krishnaswami Bharathi: Even that he is opposing now. Perhaps he wants it to be repealed.
Pandit Mukut Bihari Lal Bhargava: For the introduction of simultaneous heirship of daughter with son the witnesses number only
78 and the number of those against was 215. Regarding conversion of widow’s limited estate as a female heir into an absolute estate the opinions for were 49 and against 107. In case of divorce options for were
112 and against 119. In case of adoption and the changes that are introduced opinions for were 36 and against 38. On other points the opinions against change were overwhelmingly larger than for it. Where is the justification, I ask, for pursuing this legislation ?
Some Honourable Members: No justification.
Pandit Mukut Bihari Lal Bhargava: It is claimed by a number of Members of this House that public opinion is over-whelmingly in favour of this piece of legislation.
Shrimati G. Durgabai: What about monogamy ?
Pandit Mukut Bihari Lal Bhargava: I will come to that also at the proper stage. My submission is that if this is a democratic legislature, if this legislature claims to legislate in consonance with the predominent volume of public opinion in the country, the only course for it is to throw out this piece of legislation, because whatever public opinion there was in the country distinctly points out that it is against it. I am sorry I have not got with me the particular newspaper in which the opinion given by the Law Minister was published. It was a few days before we commenced the consideration of this measure in February and he took his stand not upon the quantum of evidence in his favour, nor upon the public opinion in his favour but upon its quality. That was an open admission by no other than the Law Minister himself that the weight of public opinion so far as number was concerned was against him. If it is a fact that a few individuals, however distinguished they may be, because they wish this legislation to be thrust upon the country, it cannot be accepted. The only criterion of public opinion is the public opinion taken by the Rau Committee. There is absolutely no other criterion upon which it is open to any Member of the House to say that public opinion is in favour of this piece of legislation and not against it. Similarly, we are receiving a number of representations from different bodies ..........
Babu Ramnarayan Singh : Daily.