926 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
that that amendment is accepted, still effect will be given only to such provisions as are ultimately accepted by the House. So when we come to any provision which involves expenditure then it will be competent for the hon. member to advance that argument—not at this stage. That is what I was pointing out.
Shri Biswanath Das : Thank you very much, Sir. I would not go further into it.
Shri Syamnandan Sahaya : May I make a submission, Sir, in this connection ? Under our new rules every legislation which involves any expenditure has to be presented to this House accompanied by an estimate of such expenditure. Therefore, perhaps my hon. friend was referring to those rules……
Mr. Speaker : There is nothing to be further discussed about it. It does not affect the point of relevancy. But I believe this Bill was introduced long before rule came into force.
Dr. Ambedkar : Yes, Sir. And I can tell my friend that this Bill is going to be a revenue-paying measure.
Mr. Speaker : That is another matter. We are not concerned with it.
Shri Biswanath Das : My hon. friend says that this will be a revenuepaying measure…….
Mr. Speaker : We need not go into that now.
Shri Biswanath Das : Well my hon. friend claims the passage of this Bill and especially of this clause on the score that this is progressive. If it is so, I have no objection. If he convinces me that the legislation that he has adumbrated is progressive, I will certainly go with him. But I feel that it is as reactionary in certain respects as anyone could think of. I would in this connection invite my hon. friend’s attention to the Child Marriage Restrained Act, an Act which has been in existence for the last twenty years or more and is a dead letter.
Several Hon. Members : No, no.
Mr. Speaker : Let him proceed. That is his opinion.
Dr. Ambedkar : His wrong opinion.
Shri Biswanath Das : I will be glad if it is really “no” but my experience is otherwise. But what has my hon. friend the Law Minister done ? Whether the Child Marriage Restraint Act is dead or is alive, what has my hon. friend done with his show of progressiveness ? He has kept up and carried on the same age of marriage of 18. Why