PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 247
(8) Removal of ballot papers from the polling station has also been made an offence.
(9) Personation has been made a cognizable offence throughout India, and as you will see, there are other provisions of the Bill. There is a provision which says that every voter shall have to give his thumb impression in an indelible ink. I hope the ink will be indelible so that there will be no case of a second vote in the name of another person. We have got an enormous electorate and it would be quite difficult to find out that there is no impersonation. The only method of safeguarding it is to have some kind of mark by which when a voter comes to give a vote, it will be possible for a polling station to ascertain that he has already not voted.
These are the general provisions which are contained in this Bill. Sir, I quite see that the time at the disposal of the House is very short, having regard to the length of the Bill, but I think the House can take comfort in the fact that we have had a very large Select Committee. I do not think that any Bill has had such a big Select Committee.
An Hon. Member : Except the Hindu Code.
Dr. Ambedkar : It was also a very small Select Committee, if I remember aright but here there are about 31 Members.
An Hon. Member : Adult franchise?
Dr. Ambedkar : I have given almost adult franchise. Secondly, as I said, this does not involve any question of policy. These are mere questions of methods of bringing about a fair deal in the election and consequently, I do not propose when the Select Committee meets to raise any kind of objection to any suggestion that might be made. It will be an open forum. I should also like to say that if those Members who have not had the luck to be included in the Select Committee also care to send any suggestions either personally to me. or to the Select Committee, I shall place them before the Select Committee and see that they are given due consideration. Sir, I move.