454 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Shri. M. B. Vaishya: The ruling that you have kindly given in this regard is certainly valuable and we have but to follow it. But I have to say a few words to Hon. Dr. Ambedkar. The Bill that he has introduced has been moved on behalf of the Government and as it must have been very a necessary one, therefore, we, Harijans will surely lend our support to the same. But what I had to say I have submitted in brief. I hope that he will excuse me for what I have said here, and you Sir, will also excuse me.
( Translation concluded)
[S RHIMATI D URGABAI in the Chair ].
Dr. Deshmukh (Madhya Pradesh) : My friend the Hon. Minister is in a great hurry, but I have some very important points to urge. It is not with regard to one particular caste or another, but I must say, that the whole way in which this matter of representation of the people, election rules and regulations are being dealt with is extremely unsatisfactory. We have had one Bill in 1950, which is now Act No. XLIII of 1950. We know the way in which it was introduced, the struggle that this House had to put in for the sake of getting the provisions amended and the number of seats increased. Then very soon after we had an amending Bill which is Act No. XXIII of 1950 by which we provided for representation of Part C States in the Council of States. Then we have not had any Bill for some time although two are now pending before the House, but we had two notifications under the signature of the President. It is perfectly legal and constitutional to do so. Those are the notifications dated 10th of August 1950 and 6th of September 1950 specifying the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution. My first complaint refers to action of Government under these two articles 341 and 342. Under the second part of article 341 Parliament alone has the authority to modify, add to or substract from the list that has been notified under the signature of the President. It was quite proper and constitutional to notify these lists but I wish the Hon. Minister had given this House an opportunity of looking into and scrutinizing the lists that have been given in these notifications.