1080 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Shri R. K. Chaudhari: Please answer my question. According to the customary law monogamy is allowed in Punjab. Are you in favour of continuing the monogamy law ?
Sardar B. S. Man : I shall discuss that threadbare, law by law.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : We are not going to take up other matters. I think, it was made suficiently clear by the Hon. the Prime Minister who stated that they would proceed only with marriage and divorce. If this is accepted, I hope the hon. Member will resume his seat.
Sardar Hukam Singh (Punjab) : If this clause is accepted at this stage, would it be again taken into consideration when the other Chapters come up ? Once it is made applicable, certainly the whole thing has to be thrashed out at this stage.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: If the Bill is confined to marriage and divorce and the other parts are brought in by a separate Bill, does the Hon. Member think that this clause will apply to everyone ?
Shrimati Durgabai (Madras) : What is the basis for the Hon. Member’s statement that the most important Chapters relating to inheritance will be dropped ? What is the source of his information ?
Sardar B. S. Man : The hon. lady Member comes to my rescue for the first time. It is exactly because the other portions have not been dropped, I say that I am perfectly entitled to discuss the whole body of it.
Shri Bharati (Madras) : The Prime Minister and the Law Minister have already stated that due to factors of time etc. it is more than unlikely that the other Chapters would be taken up. Although it may not be a categorical assurance, for all practical purposes we may take it as the official decision. If we take the practical aspects of the matter, in all probability, I may even say 99 per cent. the other Chapters would not be taken up during the current session. It is just possible that we may take them up during February or March next, but during the current session it is absolutely impossible to take up other Chapters. It will be great fortune if we finish Chapter II. Therefore, I would request other members to co-operate. At least, let us pass this portion. I think it will be in the interests of the discussion if Dr. Ambedkar makes some kind of statement and gives, if not a categorical assurance at least some indication, that only the provisions relating to marriage and divorce would be passed during the current session.
Pandit M. B. Bhargava (Ajmer) : Has the hon. Member been briefed by the Government of India to take up this position ?