PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 625
*Dr. Ambedkar: I think I could set matters right ?—at any rate put them in a proper perspective so that the House may come to its own conclusion.
I first of all wish to dispose of the point with regard to sub-clause (d) of clause 59, relating to wives. I think in order to understand what exactly sub-clause (d) seeks to do, it is necessary to go back to section 20 of the Representation of People Act. Section 20 of that Act deals with the question of the meaning of the words “ordinarily resident”. What is the meaning of the words “ordinarily resident”? Now, the words “ordinarily resident” are quite clear with regard to persons who are residing in India-. But with regard to persons, for instance, who are in the armed forces of the Union and who under the Army Act and Regulations can be transferred from one place to another, they cannot be presumed to have any particular fixed place of residence. They are in one place for a few months, they are then transferred to some other place. They are there for a few months and again they are transferred. They are so to say a mobile force with no particular attachment to any particular area. In that case, the question arises as to what is to be their constituency.
Similarly, there is another class of people who are employed in the service of the Government of India outside India. In regard to these persons the provision that is made in section20 of the Representation of People Act is this: that option would be given to them to make a statement as to which constituency they regard to be their constituency and whatever choice they make is accepted by the Registration Officer for the purpose of recording their names in the electoral roll. That is the position.
Obiviously along with that the question of wives of such persons also arises, because they are also sometimes living with their husbands who are either in are armed forces of the country or in the services outside India. Just as the question arises with regard to the males who are employed, the question also arises with regard to their wives. The answer given in section 20 is that the constituency of their husbands
- P. D., Vol. 12, Part II, 21st May 1951, pp. 9220-25.