DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 773
will become void. Is it his contention that on the 26th January when the new Constitution comes into force, and the article which he has quoted certainly come into force, on that day all this portion of the Hindu Law become void and there will be a vacuum left? Can a more unreasonable presumption be made ?
Mr. Speaker : Order, order. That is expressing hon. Member’s own opinion.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Sir, I have exercised, if I may say so, a great deal of self-control with regard to my friend Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya. He would have heard me say, if I had said all that I wanted to say about it.
Mr. Speaker : There are two amendments to the original proposition : That the Bill to amend and codify certain branches of the Hindu Law as reported by the Select Committee, be taken into consideration. I shall first put to the House the amendments. The first amendment is by Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad asking for circulation for obtaining further opinion thereon by the end of 1949. It is too late to extend the date.
Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad : May I explain the position, Sir ?
Mr. Speaker : No. The question is:
“That the Bill be circulated for the purpose of obtaining further opinion thereon by the end of 1949.”
The motion was negatived.
Mr. Speaker : Then the next amendment. The question is :
“That the Bill be re-committed to the same Select Committee, to which it was sent, for a further report thereon with reference to the original Bill which was referred to it on the 9th April 1948.”
The motion was negatived.
Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad : I claim a division, Sir.
Mr. Speaker : Very well. I find the ‘Ayes’ are five and the rest are ‘Noes’. The motion is lost by a large majority. Now I will put the original motion.
The question is :
“That the Bill to amend and codify certain branches of the Hindu Law, as reported by the Select Committee, be taken into consideration.”
The motion was adopted.
Prof. Shibban Lal Saksena (U. P. : General): Sir, the ‘Noes’ have it.
Mr. Speaker : I find their number is only six or seven. The majority of Members are for the motion.
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