PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 803
Chamber we merely used the general expression “members of the municipality” without making it a qualification “elected members”. The question has arisen whether it is desirable that the nominated members of the municipality should also take part in the election of members to the Upper Chambers. The answer I gave was that although it is not possible for us to do a anything by reason of the fact that we have got this constitutional provision, still, as municipalities are a subject for the State it would be possible for the State Governments to modify their Municipal Acts so as to eliminate the nominated members from the Municipalities. The question put to me was whether the Central Government could do anything. I said the only answer that I could suggest was that perhaps the Prime Minister, if he so thought fit, might instruct the Chief Ministers of West Bengal or Punjab that this anomaly may be eliminated.
The Minister of Home Affairs (Shri Rajagopala- chari): What the Law Minister means is that they may be eliminated from the Council—they cannot eliminate them from their functions under the Constitution.
Dr. Ambedkar: No, no.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: So long as they are members of municipalities, nominated members, under the Constitution, are entitled to vote. The suggestion is not, that the Constitution may be modified overnight—the suggestion is, that if they modify the existing law relating to municipalities, dissolving all the existing municipalities, and before the election takes place, allow all the seats to be filled by election, then it would meet the purpose. But are we making suggestions now on the floor of the House, as to what ought to be done? Let us proceed. We have very little time left. The matter in hand is the Delimitation of Constituencies’ Orders. I do not think we should trouble the hon. Prime Minister unless he wants to do it himself. Let us proceed with the legitimate work before us.