PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 431
(2) The States and the territories thereof shall be the States and their territories specified in Parts A, B and C of the First Schedule.”
Therefore, Madam, it should be obvious that Article 330 read with Article 1 does specifically provide for reservation of seats in the House of the People for Part C States also.
Mr. Chairman: For the hon. Member’s guidance, Article
330 covers only Part A and Part B States. The Constitution does not provide specifically for the Part C States.
Shri J. R. Kapoor: My contention is that Article 330 is not confined to Parts A and B States, but it extends its provisions to any State and according to the definition of ‘State’ in article 1, a Part C State is also covered. Therefore, my contention is that Article 330 is obviously wide enough to cover all States, Parts A, B and C.
Therefore, Madam, there is absolutely no necessity for bringing forward a Bill specifically again providing for the reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in respect of the Part C States.
And then, Madam, I find from the Bill that it seeks not only to make this unnecessary provision for the reservation of seats in respect of the Part C States, but it goes further and even fixes the number of members who should be elected to fill up the reserved seats. According to clause 2 of the Bill we are asked to agree to a new section, section 3A which runs thus :
“Of the seats in the House of the People allotted under section
3 to each of the States of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Vindhya Pradesh, one shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes; and of the seats so allotted to each of the States of Manipur and Vindhya Pradesh, one shall be reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.”
Now, that means that we are called upon to commit ourselves for all times, unless of course amending legislation is brought forward before the House to give one seat and no more and no less than one—of course there cannot be less, than one—to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes of Part C States. In respect of Part A and the Part B States we may remember we have not specified either in the Constitution or in any Bills we have passed so far in respect