PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 201
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SOCIETIES REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL
- Shri Sidhva (Madhya Pradesh) : My Bill refers to amendment of the Societies Registration Act, 1860. This is a very simple Bill.
The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar) : May I, with your permission, make a statement on the Bill, so that my friend Mr. Sidhva may be in a position to determine the course that he should follow?
Last time when the Bill was before the House I promised that I would enquire from the various States as to what they thought about Mr. Sidhva’s measure and that I would communicate to Mr. Sidhva as well as to the House the replies received from the various States. Now the position is this.
So far as Part A States are concerned, they are desirous that the improvement suggested by Mr. Sidhva should be made, but they have made this reservation that they would like to initiate legislation themselves. The Government of India, on a further consideration, do not think that, in view of the wishes expressed by the Governments of the Part A States, they should themselves undertake all-India legislation. They do not think that this is a matter of such character as to require common uniform legislation throughout India. They are prepared to, leave the matter to the different States. So far as Governments are concerned, Part A States must be excluded from this Bill.
In regard to Part B States, they have no such law and consequently the Government of India did not consult them. The standing rule which the Government of India observe in the matter of initiating legislation falling within the Concurrent List is of a very longstanding character, namely, that they shall not undertake legislation without the consent
- P. D., Vol. 7, Part II, 12th December 1950, pp. 1560-65.