926 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Mr. Deputy Chairman : We have been observing the convention that the Members of the Select Committee ………
Prof. G. Ranga : We have not observed it that way. It is not rule; it is a convention.
Mr. Deputy Chairman : The convention should be interpreted in that manner because it has been observed that way.
Prof. G. Ranga: There is no definite rule on this point but the convention we have been following is that generally Members who are Members of the Select Committee do not speak.
Mr. Deputy Chairman : On two or three previous occasions I have refused the Members.
Shri Biswanath Das (Orissa) : Because they have got the chance to place their views before the Select Committee, it is felt not desirable to give them the necessary ……..
Mr. Deputy Chairman : It will be setting a bad precedent.
Shri Biswanath Das : Therefore the non-Members in the Select Committee are given the chance to place their views so that the Select Committee may have the advantage of considering those views as well. There is, I submit, no rule and we should not have any rigid convention to make it binding on the Members of the Select Committee not to speak. I would therefore appeal to my hon. friend Dr. Ambedkar not to consider it in that light and think of withdrawing his name from the Select Committee which I consider will be most useful and helpful.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Mr. Deputy Chairman, before I actually deal with the provisions of this Bill, I think it is desirable that I should draw the attention of the House to the responsibility created by certain articles in the Constitution and the responsibility placed upon the Government to give effect to those provisions.
P. D. (R. S.), Vol. 7-B., 16th September 1954, pp. 2424-66.