PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 351
Ch. Ranbir Singh (Punjab) : The new Parliament can repeal these laws if they so want.
Dr. Ambedkar: I have dealt with article 19.
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee: Why are you giving retrospective effect ?
Dr. Ambedkar : Unless you give retrospective effect, these laws cannot be revived.
Shri Shiv Charan Lal (Uttar Pradesh) : Is that legal ?
Dr. Ambedkar: Why not ? If these laws are to be in operation, they must be in operation on the date when this law comes into existence. You can give it a new beginning if you can re-enact; but I do not see how you can re-enact.
Shri Deshbandhu Gupta: Because the Hon. Law Minister is going to another article, may I ask a question with regard to this article ? The power sought to be conferred refers to incitement to an offence. Section 4 of the Press (Emergency Powers) Act, to which the Hon. Law Minister has referred, involves incitement to murder or to an offence involving violence. I want to know.
Dr. Ambedkar: Do you want to advocate it ?
Shri Deshbandhu Gupta: No. I want to know whether under the wide powers that are sought to be taken, it is not possible to advocate even non-violent disobedience to any order which may be against the liberties of the people, and which will constitute an offence under other enactments. I want an explanation. For instance, section 144 prevents the holding of a meeting for unlawful purposes. Some district magistrate issue an order. A newspaper, tomorrow, advises the people that this order is absolutely obnoxious and it may be disobeyed. Will it or will it not constitute an offence although it is neither an incitement to violence nor incitment to murder ?
Shri Rajagopalchari: May I submit that such extensively detailed discussion may be reserved for the Select Committee. The principles have been explained. Otherwise, we will have no time.