PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 623
Shri J. R. Kapoor: Then do not extend it to the wives of voters who live far away.
Dr. Ambedkar: They are only (a), (b) or (c).
As regards the candidates, election agents and polling agents, I do not see why the rule of postal ballot should be applied to them. I can quite understand that the candidate may not be present in the constituency in which his name is enrolled, because we have given the facility that a candidate can stand anywhere he likes. It is also possible that the various persons whom he engages such as the election agents, polling agents and so on, may not be able to work in the constituencies in which their names are enrolled. In such cases it is perhaps desirable to make it possible for them to vote in a constituency where they are working although that is not their constituency by registration. But that is a matter which must be considered separately and not under the postal ballot section.
With regard to Rajpramukhs, Governors and the President, I do not see what valid ground there is for permitting them to cast their vote by postal ballot, except the fact that they are certain dignitaries of the State. But I do not think that the law in the matter of election should recognise any such distinction at all.
An Hon. Member : They may be living far away from their constituency.
Dr. Ambedkar: I do not think so. They can arrange their tours in such a way as to be in their headquarters at the proper time. That is not a very difficult thing.
Shri Sidhva: They have all the facilities for that.
Dr. Ambedkar: With regard to persons under detention, I think the general rule of law is this. First of all, whoever is under detention is not in a position to exercise the rights that are given to him. That is the rule under the English Law. The English Law makes no provision for what might be called “convicts” to vote, by reason of the fact that they have placed themselves, so to say, beyond the pale of the electoral law.