630 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
The other amendment is a consequential one. Because clause
59 relates to the manner of voting and clause 61 relates to the right to vote…….. When we come to clause 61 the following words occurring in sub-clause (5) “or is subjected to preventive detention under any law for the time being in force” should be deleted there.
Mr. Chairman: Order, order. Unless and until we succeed in getting it established that the detenu has a right to vote we cannot do anything. The manner how he would vote would naturally come after that. In the present arrangement, clause
59 precedes clause 61. So it would be better first of all if the House establishes that a detenu has got a right to vote. Then the question will arise how he should vote. If the House is of the opinion that the detenu has the right to vote, then the Government shall have to make some arrangements as to how he should exercise the vote.
Shri J. R. Kapoor: But not without this law authorising the Government to make any such arrangement.
Mr. Chairman: Order, Order. Let us hear the Hon. Minister.
Dr. Ambedkar: If the House adopted it, what I would do would be to delete the last sentence, namely “or is subjected to preventive detention under any law for the time being in force” and then say “that for purposes of enabling persons under preventive detention to cast their votes, the Government may make provision either by establishing polling stations or by ballot paper” or put something like that.
Shri J. R. Kapoor: The other course will be to take clause
61 and then clause 59.
Shri T. T. Krishnamachari: It does not preclude this House from deciding on the amendment proposed by Mr. Kapoor because the acceptance of the amendment will naturally involve a deletion in clause 61…… The procedure is quite right. I think you can put Mr. Kapoor’s amendment to vote...
An hon. Member: What about the illiterate voters ?