PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1057
tax Appellate Tribunal is the only statutory body of a permanent nature so functioning.
(i) It was constituted in the year 1941.
(ii) The expenditure varies from year to year. The budget grant for the current year is Rs. 7,87,700.
(iii) The accounts are audited by the Accountant General concerned.
(iv) Monthly reports of disposal of appeals and applications by the different Benches of the Tribunal are received in the Ministry. In addition an annual administration report is also submitted by the Tribunal to the Ministry. Information relating to the Tribunal is incorporated in the Notes on the activities of the Ministry circulated annually to members of Parliament in connection with the demands for grants.
(b) None.
(c) None.
(46)
*ELECTIONS IN SNOW-CLAD AREAS OF PUNJAB
83. Giani G. S. Mussafir: (a) Will the Minister of Law be pleased to state whether it is a fact that the areas of Lahaul and Spiti in the Punjab remain snow-clad during most of the year round ?
(b) If the answer to part (a) above be in the affirmative, what arrangement do Government propose to make for holding elections in that area simultaneously with the rest of the Union ?
(c) If not, when do Government propose to hold elections in that area ?
The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar): (a) to (c). From a recent report of the Punjab Government it appears that Spiti is usually snow-bound after August, and Lahaul, after October. The question whether elections in these two sparsely populated regions should be held earlier than January next, or if that is not practicable, what special arrangements should be made for holding the elections in January is being
*P. D., Vol. 9, Part I, 22nd August 1951, p. 551.