796 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Mr. Speaker : The reason for taking up clause 1 at the end is to see that it may be properly worded, after seeing the final form of the various provisions in the legislation. The hon. Member will see that sub-clause (1) of clause 1 says as to what the name of the Bill shall be : sub-clause (2) deals with the territorial extent of this legislation and sub-clause (3) speaks about the date from which the Bill will come into force.
Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava : Territorial extent is a substantive question.
Mr. Speaker: Even in regard to that, after going through the provisions of the Bill it may be possible for us to see more clearly. As to whether the provisions of the Bill should apply to all parts of India or exceptions should be made in respect of certain provisions in respect to certain States or areas. To my mind, it appears more advantageous to take clause 1 at the end, for then the House will have a more clear picture as to what the provisions of the Bill are. That is a better procedure and we shall proceed with clause 2.
As regards Pandit M. B. Bhargava’s amendment, it more or less seeks to amend clause 1 and he wants to put in a new condition for the application of the provisions of the Bill.
Dr. Ambedkar : It is really an amendment to clause 1.
Pandit M. B. Bhargava: I may be allowed to explain.
Mr. Speaker : The amendment says :
“ That this Code or only such part of it shall come into force if and when it is ratified on a referendum by majority of the Hindu electorate of Parliament.”
That is, really speaking, an amendment to sub-clause (3) of clause 1, though he places it as a separate new clause. No further arguments are necessary and I shall proceed with clause 2.
Shri Sarwate (Madhya Bharat) : Will the official amendments be moved first or will mine be taken up first ?
Mr. Speaker : I am going by the order so far as the provisions of the Bill go. The official amendments will come later on.
Shrimati Durgabai : If the official amendments are moved first they may cover the points to be raised later by non-official amendments.
Mr. Speaker : We will go by the order.
Dr. Ambedkar : May I make a suggestion in the interest of economy of time ....