33. Constitution (First Amendment) Bill - Page 364

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 347

Some Hon. Members: No.

Dr. S. P. Mookerjee: If it is only for protection against defamation, why are you having it separately ?

Dr. Ambedkar: Sometimes it is better to separate a certain category.

Shri Kamath: Expediency.

Dr. S. P. Mookerjee: Which is the Constitution in the rest of the world where such a separate provision is made ? You contradicted me.

Dr. Ambedkar: The whole point is that the British Constitution is an unwritten Constitution and therefore nothing is necessary; Parliament is supreme.

Dr. S. P. Mookerjee: What about the American Constitution ?

Dr. Ambedkar: There are no Fundamental Rights in the United Kingdom. That is the difficulty.

Dr. S. P. Mookerjee: In any written constitution does a similar provision exist ?

Dr. Ambedkar: It does not, but in the United States of America according to the canons of interpretation adopted by the Supreme Court such a law is possible.

Dr. S. P. Mookerjee: That is a different matter.

Dr. Ambedkar: It is not different at all.

Now I come to clause 3, sub-clause (1)( b ). This clause seeks to amend clause (6) of article 19 which deals with trade, profession, etc.

Shri Deshbandhu Gupta (Delhi) : Before the Hon. Minister goes to clause 3(1)( b ) , may I ask him one question ? The words are “defamation or incitement to an offence” and all laws existing today will become…….

Dr. Ambedkar: I have not come to that.

Shri Deshbandhu Gupta: I want you to answer that.