PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1073
The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar): ( a ) No. The Election Commission did not issue instructions that the lists of polling stations should not be shown to any political party before final approval. On the contrary, the Commission suggested to the State Governments that their tentative plans regarding polling stations might be circulated to the different political parties, and also given as much publicity as possible. A copy of the Commission’s letter dated 26th May, 1951 to all State Governments is placed on the Table of the House for information. ( See Appendix VII, Annexure No. 9).
( b ) The Government of Bombay issued instructions to the Collectors that the tentative plans as approved by Government should be shown to the political parties and members of the public. These plans are being kept at the District Headquarters and Taluka Headquarters in that State for inspection, and the Collectors have been asked to consider carefully the suggestions or criticisms from the public. With a view to facilitating their work the Collectors, who are Chairmen of the Rural Development Boards, were also instructed by the Government of Bombay to show the plans to the Vice-. Chairmen of those Boards.
( c ) Some of the Vice-Chairmen of the Rural Development Boards in Bombay are members of District Congress Committees, and in a few cases their Chairmen.
( d ) Does not arise.
Pandit Kunzra: May I ask whether as a matter of fact the preliminary lists of polling stations have been shown to other persons than the Vice-Chairmen of the Rural Development Boards in the Bombay State ?
Dr. Ambedkar: I have no such information.
Pandit Kunzru: Why was it necessary then for the Bombay Government to ask the District Magistrates to show these preliminary lists of polling stations to the Vice-Chairmen of the Rural Development Boards if the instructions issued by the Election Commission were of a general character relating to all political parties ?
Dr. Ambedkar: That was probably because it was necessary to collect the organised opinion of the people in that area.