PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1013
The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar): (a) A statement is laid on the Table (See Appendix I, Annexure No. 4).
(b) This question has been dealt with yesterday in the Presidents opening address.
Shri Kamath : Is it a fact, Sir, that in the President’s Order issued some time in October the total population of Scheduled tribes in Part A and Part B States of the Indian Union has been given as 179 lakhs or so while according to the Census of 1941 the total population of Scheduled tribes in those States is about 248 lakhs ?
Dr. Ambedkar : This question should be addressed to the hon. the Home Member.
Dr. Deshmukh : May I know if the Hon. Minister of Law is aware that according to the present arrangement, considerable hardship would be caused to a Scheduled Caste candidate and whether he is intending to take any steps by which this double constituency which is likely to fall to the share of the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes candidates would be reduced to a single constituency.
Dr. Ambedkar : That is a matter which undoubtedly will be dealt with by the House when the Order dealing with constituencies will be placed before the House.
Prof. Ranga: Is it absolutely incumbent according to the Constitution to have the elections for the Parliament—the House of the People and also for the State Legislatures— simultaneously ?
Dr. Ambedkar : That would be a matter which would be dealt with on the basis of convenience by the Election Commissioner.
Sardar B. S. Man : May I know for the purposes of delimitation of constituencies whether the results of Census which is shortly to be taken in 51 will be taken into consideration or the present figures of 1941 will be considered ?
Dr. Ambedkar : I think under the Constitution, the provision is that the election is to take place within three years from the date of the provisional Parliament. The old Census may be taken, subject to the fact that in certain Provinces like the Punjab and West Bengal the population may be estimated by the President on the basis of the voting strength.