PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 119
Shri Hossain Imam : I was only suggesting. This Ordinance can last until six weeks ............
Dr. Ambedkar : From the commencement of Parliament.
Shri Kamath (Madhya Pradesh) : Six weeks after the commencement of the next session of Parliament.
Dr. Ambedkar : We do not know what will happen. I cannot say when Parliament will be called. We do not want to be left in the lurch after having made an Ordinance.
Shri Kamath : How can that be ?
Dr. Ambedkar : This suggestion is a very impracticable suggestion.
Besides, so far as this aspect is concerned, as I have said, we have got a precedent. We have got a similar law with regard to Delhi. We have got a similar law with regard to Ajmer-Merwara, the Ajmer-Merwara Extension Act of 1947. If these two Acts are not so bad as my friend tries to depict them, I cannot understand why there should be any objection to this measure. It may be, if there was time, I could suggest to the House that at a later stage the House may consider the procedure which has been recently adopted in the House of Commons which consists of having a Standing Committee of the House to examine such delegated legislation and to bring to the notice of Parliament whether the delegated legislation has either exceeded the original intention of Parliament or has departed from it or has affected any fundamental prinicple. This is a matter which we may take up independently. I cannot understand how now after long practice, anybody can object to what is called delegated legislation.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : The question is :
“That the Bill to provide for the extension of laws to certain Part C States, be taken into consideration.”
The motion was adopted.
Shri Hossain Imam : May I ask the Hon. Minister to explain why—he has not explained in the Statement of Objects and Reasons—the age of consent has been reduced ?