DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 585
Mr. Deputy Speaker : I have heard the point of order sufficiently. The new Constitution has not yet been implemented. It has not come into force. I do not propose to give any ruling on the question as to whether it will stand in the way of this Bill being passed into law if it comes into force. Under the present Constitution, this House is thoroughly competent to get on with this Bill.
Shri T. T. Krishnamachari (Madras : General) : In view of the importance of this measure and the fact that the number of people who want to speak is large, would the Chair consider the desirability of using its discretion and imposing a time-limit ?
Some Honourable Members : No, no.
Some Honourable Members : Yes, yes.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Order, order.
Shri M. Tirumala Rao (Madras : General): This point was raised by Mr. Sidhva and disposed of by you.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Mr. Sidhva raised another point. He wanted to know if this House would continue the discussion tomorrow and what length of time has been allotted. It is an official Bill and it is, for Government to allot the number of days, I replied. The position is that the Speaker can only say whether debate on a particular Bill has been sufficient or not. So far as this Bill is concerned, hon. Members are fully aware that no timelimit can be imposed. ( Hear, hear ) .
Hon. Member will kindly wait and see. The general discussion on this Bill was begun so early as 24th February 1949. It continued on the 25th,
26th, 28th, 1st March, 1st April and 2nd April. One hon. Member took six hours and eight minutes. We spent in all 6 days, 9 hours and 20 minutes. All the same, only 14 hon. Members have spoken so far. The last speaker who has just concluded, Pandit Mukut Bihari Lal Bhargava, started at 3 15 p.m. on 2-4-49 and went on till 5 that day—one and a three-quarter hours. Today he went on from 11-50 to 12-57. At this rate, we will have to sit nearly a year if all hon. Members are to have a chance to speak. Many of the points which have been made in the speeches are all very enlightening. I say nothing against the speeches. But, I have received a large number of requests from hon. Members for opportunities to speak.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra (West Bengal: General): We are all in so much darkness. We want light from every side.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Light from every side is coming, but if we proceed at this rate, light from many sides would not come.