PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 105
or were they to be subordinate to the military authorities of the Government of India ? A compromise was entered into which is mentioned in article 259 to which he referred. Therein it is provided that although the troops already raised were to continue, they were to be subject to any law that Parliament might make. Now, it was possible for Parliament to make a law declaring that for all purposes the troops raised already by the States in Part B would be regarded as part of the regular Army of India. That is, of course, the intention. But, as I said, these matters were governed by the covenant. Although the Rajpramukhs who represent the States in Part B were prepared to accept the provisions contained in article
259, that is to say, confer the power on Parliament to make such a law, they still desired that they should continue to be the Commanders-in-Chief of those Forces and that their position ought to be safe-guarded. These things arising out of the convenants which, as I said, had already been entered into and on the basis of which accession was made, had to be respected. I hope and trust that a time will come when the States would voluntarily agree to Parliament exercising complete jurisdiction, effecting complete assimilation between the Indian regular Army and the Forces raised by them. Therefore, what we have to do today is to effect a sort of a compromise. These sections 4 and 5 really represent the best compromise that we can make.
Pandit Kunzru : If I may interrupt my hon. friend, he has dealt with a very wide question. My criticism was limited to one point only. Why has not the power conferred on Parliament by article 259 of the Constitution been used to extend the Army Act to Part B States Forces ?
Dr. Ambedkar : That is what I am dealing with.
Pandit Kunzru : I did not deal with the wider aspect of the problem on which my hon. friend has dwelt so far.
Dr. Ambedkar : But, the wider aspect is the real aspect. The whole question is governed by the covenants which were entered into before the Constitution was made, unless, of course, my hon. Friend’s position is that covenant or no