1006 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Dr. Ambedkar : No. This is a separate charge.
Shrimati Durgabai : May I know whether the Election Commission that is contemplated under the Constitution has been set up ; if not, when is it likely to be set up ?
Dr. Ambedkar : I think the Election Commissioner has been appointed. He is probably either taking charge today or has already taken charge yesterday.
Shri Tyagi : May I know what is the position with regard to by-elections to State Legislature today—will they be held on the previous electoral rolls or on the fresh ones ?
Dr. Ambedkar : On the existing rolls which will be in operation on the date of the election.
Shri T. T. Krishnamachari : May I ask if the Election Commissioner who has been appointed and who is going to take charge in a few days’ time is designated as the “Chief Election Commissioner” ? If that is so, are other Election Commissioners going to be appointed ; if so, how many ?
Dr. Ambedkar : Government have not come to any decision on the latter part of the question.
Shrimati Durgabai : May I know what is the precise scope of work of this Commissioner ?
Dr. Ambedkar : That has already been defined in the Constitution.
Shri Kamath : Is the Law Minister in a position to state whether the General Elections will be held before or after the completion of the decennial census ?
Dr. Ambedkar : I do not want to commit myself, but I suppose the position is that the decennial census may in some cases have a very crucial effect on the preparation of the electoral rolls and also in the matter of assigning seats. So it may precede.
Shri A. P. Jain : May I know when the last electoral roll in any State is expected to be printed ?
Dr. Ambedkar : What is the question ? I want to know what my friend means by “printed” —printed as the provisional list or revised, list or final list ?