(10) List of Schedule Castes - Page 1023

1004 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES

Dr. Ambedkar : I suppose so.

Sardar B. S. Man : I want to know whether the lists proposed to be compiled will be uniformly applicable to all the States in the country or whether they will differ from State to State ?

Dr. Ambedkar : It cannot be. It is always a provincial list.

Shri Buragohain : May I know whether the list of Scheduled Tribes is also under examination ?

Dr. Ambedkar : Oh, Yes.

Shri Tyagi : Is it the intention of Government to exclude from the list castes that have progressed to the level of the so-called Caste Hindus ?

Dr. Ambedkar : The Scheduled Castes have been always untouchables. Nothing less.

Shri Tyagi : Is it the intention of Government to revise the lists so as to exclude those castes that do not have the disability of untouchability after the progress they have made ?

Dr. Ambedkar : The procedure for revising the Schedules is provided in the Constitution. It can be done by parliamentary legislation.

Shri Naik : May I know whether any steps have been taken by the Government to implement article 340 of the Constitution ?

Dr. Ambedkar : The appointment of a Commission is a separate matter. That is also under consideration.

Shrimati Durgabai : Since untouchability has been banned by the Constitution, can it still form the basis of exclusion or inclusion ?

Shri Barman : Is it contemplated to publish a provisional list before the final list is published ?

Dr. Ambedkar : It is not contemplated, because the power is given to the President to issue the list.