256 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
original Act contained two provisions. One provision was not to allow any person who was not placed on the register to be employed in Government hospitals. Obviously, it was expected that this provision would become operative after the registers ready. As the registers are not ready, persons who have not been placed on the register by reason-not of their not being qualified, but of the register not being ready would become disabled from holding any office in Government hospitals. Therefore, it has become necessary to extend the period and permit such persons to hold office notwithstanding the fact that they are not placed on the register.
Secondly, there is a Dental School in Bengal which used to grant Diplomas in Dentistry. At the time when the Act was passed there was a controversy as to whether the diplomas granted by this Dental School of Bengal should be recognised to enable persons holding diploma to be placed on the register. It was felt that the diplomas granted by the Dental School of Bengal were not sufficiently qualified to place them on the register. There has been considerable agitation by persons holding the diploma granted by the Dental School of Bengal that this disability should be removed. A compromise has been suggested by the Government of West Bengal according to which persons who have received their diploma before the year 1940, subject to certain conditions, may be treated as persons qualified to be entered upon the register. That compromise is also given a place in this Bill.
The Bill, therefore, contains three provisions :
(1) to extend the period, (2) to permit names of persons holding diplomas of the Dental School of Bengal in certain cirumstances to be placed on the register and (3) to continue the employment of unregistered dentists in the Government hospitals till 1951 until the register is prepared.
This is all that the Bill contains and I hope that the House will not find any difficulty in giving its assent to the Bill.
Mr. Speaker : motion moved :
“That the Bill to amend the Dentists Act, 1948, be taken into consideration.”