PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 753
existing States and in respect of this matter at any rate there is a specific procedure laid down under the Constitution which you are bound to follow.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: It is claimed it has been followed.
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee: No, Sir.
Dr. Ambedkar: With your permission, Sir, I would like to clear the point in a few sentences because I am very grateful he has put the point very clearly now. The question seems to be, what is the procedure......
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee: Well, let me finish. I won’t speak for long.
Dr. Ambedkar : I am not speaking, I am only explaining.
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee: I thought, Sir, when the Law Minister spoke earlier also, he was explaining.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: If the Hon. Minister feels he can explain a particular point he may do so. I think the procedure has been followed. The President has given his sanction, the resolution has been passed by the Assam Assembly. The recommendation of the President has been printed on the back page of the Bill.
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee: I have seen that. But so far as the provision for ceding out any portion of Indian territory is concerned, that is practically bound by the provisions of Articles
1 and 2 and in such circumstances is it open to Parliament to pass a Bill ceding a portion of Indian territory ?
Mr. Deputy Speaker: That is another matter. It is not one of procedure.
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee : I was referring to both the matters. It is a question of functioning within the Constitution here. If you want to deal with such a case and if you find that your Constitution does not provide for such a contingency—it might have been a mistake ; you might have overlooked it—in whatever way it might have been done, the only thing which you can do is to amend the Constitution and Parliament should then take the necessary power to give effect to it.