PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 683
Dr. Deshmukh: May I know, Sir, under what provision so many of the Congress people who went to jail and were convicted were able to stand and how their disqualification was removed ?
Dr. Ambedkar: The disqualification was removed by the Governor-General. In some cases the time expired and in some cases he was empowered to issue an order to remove the disqualification. That is the second point. With regard to the other points that have been raised about public company directors, etc. I think it is unnecessary for me to defend the clause as it stands. All those points were raised at the various meetings where these questions were considered and ultimately the Committee came to the conclusion that the clause should stand as it has emerged from the midst of that Committee, and I, therefore, do not propose to go at any length with regard to the question.
Shri Sondhi: Co-operative Society.
Dr. Ambedkar: I am coming to that.
Shri J. R. Kapoor: There was no definite decision in the informal meeting with regard to ............
Dr. Ambedkar: I do not propose to go into the details of what happened at the informal meeting, because we are not supposed to disclose what happened there.
Shri J. R. Kapoor: The quantum of financial interest in a limited company ............
Dr. Ambedkar: Ultimately, as I said, this is how the clause emerged. With regard to the question of co-operative societies, I do not wish to commit myself nor should I be understood to have enunciated a legal proposition to which I would be bound for all times; but it does seem to me that a co-operative society is incorporated under a separate law and, therefore, as we are referring to a public company incorporated under the Indian Companies Act, ‘co-operative societies’ in my present judgment would appear to be excluded.