PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 155
Dr. Ambedkar : It is a provisional order in the sense that if Parliament does not afterwards modify, it takes effect. But the ultimate power of enactment so to say is left to Parliament.
Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava : The point raised by my hon. friend Mr. Kamath was that as a matter of fact according to the Constitution the Election Commissioner is invested with certain powers and these powers do not deal with the delimiting of constituencies. It is the privilege of the Parliament alone to delimit constituencies. Now the Election Commissioner is put in a much better situation than even the Committee. He will only consult it and he has the right to formulate the proposals.
Mr. Speaker : This is the same thing which was raised previously. When we discussed clause 6 the same point was raised and the position has been clarified already by the Hon. the Law Minister. Ultimately it is Parliament which is going to exercise this power.
Dr. Ambedkar : All these are preliminary stages. Even the President’s order is a preliminary stage.
Mr. Speaker : The hon. Member will see in the amendment the words “formulate proposals as to the delimitation of constituencies”. He is not given the power of determining. Another thing to remember is that, it is this Parliament that will deliberate and examine the proposals in respect of the delimitation.
- Dr. Deshmukh : ………You might lay down any procedure by which the committees will be elected. But there should be some element of election in so far as these persons are concerned. The Chair should not be saddled with the responsibility of creating a body which is going to determine the constituencies.
*P.D.. Vol. 4, Part II, 20th April 1950, pp. 3076-77.