DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 1083
Dr. Ambedkar: I am afraid that is entirely outside my jurisdiction. It is a matter which I should leave to the Prime Minister to answer.
Shri Deshbandhu Gupta (Delhi) : In view of the statement that has been made by the Hon. the Law Minister, may I know whether it is also the intention of Government to change the title of the Bill, because it is no longer a Code ?
Dr. Ambedkar: When I reach clause 55, I shall move all the necessary amendments to make this an independent Bill and take it out of the Code.
The Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs (Shri Jawaharlal Nehru): If I have gathered purport of the hon. Member’s question, it was whether other parts of the Bill will be introduced in this session or in a subsequent session. So far as Government are concerned, we have often stated that we stand by the whole Bill. Our difficulty has been the difficulty of time, and we decided to proceed with Part II in this session and to pass it. That did not mean that we were giving up any other part and we would very much like to have the other parts passed too. But practically speaking, there is no chance of our doing that in the present session. Whenever we can avail of an opportunity we should like to take up the other parts.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : The Hon. the Prime Minister was not here when this point was raised. When Sardar Man was on his legs, he was referring to the other parts of the Bill inasmuch as they will be applicable to the Sikhs. At that stage, a point was raised as to whether the Hon. the Prime Minister has not already stated that this measure will now be confined to marriage and divorce and as such discussion should be confined to those two subjects. Having regard to the number of days that have been spent on this clause, I wanted to conclude the discussion on this today. The Hon. the Law Minister then said that it was intended to confine this Bill only to marriage and divorce and suitable amendments would be moved even with respect to the title. In regard to the other parts of the Bill it was said that a fresh Bill would be introduced which would also cover the applicability of this Bill to the territories or communities. A further question was asked as to when that Bill would be introduced, to which the Hon. the Law Minister replied that the Prime Minister alone must answer that question. That is why I was a little doubtful if the Prime Minister has been apprised of the discussion that took place here.