DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 1301
An Hon. Member: Closure, Sir.
Shri Bharati : I move that the question be now put.
Several Hon. Members : No ; no.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The hon. Members will kindly take their seats. I will put the question to the House.
Shri Naziruddin Ahmad : Before that, Sir, I beg to state that we have submitted amendments. We have a right to speak on them. We have something to say upon them. The merits of our amendments should be discussed.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I agree.
Shri Syamnandan Sahaya : One more submission Sir. You had just now announced that after Mr. Jhunjhunwala, Mr. Bhatt would speak and that after that, you would decide as to what should happen.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I least expected that the Hon. Member Mr. Jhunjhunwala would take up so much time. His amendment is a very small one. He has taken too much time. I thought that within that time two Hon. Members might speak. We have had a discussion on this particular clause since yesterday. So far as this clause is concerned, if it had stood alone, I would not have come to any conclusion. We have discussed this to a large extent on the definition clause, what custom is, what its ingredients are, and so on. Taking both of them together, I feel that there has been sufficient discussion on this. Therefore, I shall put the motion to the House. Let the House accept it or reject it.
Shri Bhatt: There is an amendment in my name also.
Shri Syamnandan Sahaya : As Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad stated, we have tabled amendments. We wanted to speak on clause 2 also. After all, even if you pass this clause today, this matter is not finished. There are 50 or 55 clauses to be gone through. Therefore, I wish to make this submission. This is a very important clause because it is here that we lay down that the texts will not be taken into consideration. It is a matter of very primary importance. It will be another matter if we are dealing with clauses about procedural matter, clauses laying down the procedure for marriage and divorce. You may accept a closure or proceed comparatively quickly. But the question whether the texts should be abrogated, whether custom should be abrogated, that is a very vital matter. Therefore, I will again submit most respectfully this. If you are going to finish the Bill today and