Vol. 10 · pages 696–700

675L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 108 * Functions of the Labour Welfare Advisers and Labour Advisers 297. Mr. Amarendra Nath Chattopadhyaya : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the functions of the Labour Welfare Advisers and Labour Advisers appointed in the Labour Department ? (b) How many such officers have been appointed so far ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The functions of the Labour Welfare Advisor and his Deputy and Assistants are to report to Government and advise on all such meters relating to the welfare of industrial labour in India as Government may direct. The duties of the Labour Adviser were to advise on all important matters of labour legislation and administration, and in particular the manner in which labour problems that were under consideration or might arise had been or were being dealt with in England. (b) There is one Labour Welfare Adviser, one Deputy Labour Welfare Adviser and 7 Assistant Labour Welfare Officers. One Labour Adviser was appointed from December 1942 to June 1943. There is at present no Labour Adviser Mr. Amarendra Nath Chattopadhyaya : Will they advise on dearness allowance ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No. Sir. Mr. T. T. Krishnamachari : Does the Labour Adviser, of the Honourable Member, as distinct from the Labour Welfare Adviser, represent the employees’ interests. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Not at all Sir 109 @ Steps for Eliminating Immediate Causes of Industrial Disputes 298. Mr. Amarendra Nath Chattopadhyaya : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state what effective steps for * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1943 12th August 1943 p 657 @ Ibid., pp. 657-58.

676 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES eliminating the immediate causes of industrial disputes to ensure the unhampered war production have been taken so far, both in the Government’s own war-factories and in private factories engaged wholly or partly on war-orders ? (b) Have Government decided to adopt an all round policy of having all disputes referred to the adjudication before workers are compelled to go on a strike ? (c) Do they propose to advise all Provincial Governments to do so ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Government have attempted to secure fair conditions for labour both in their own factories and in private employment. Where disputes arise the methods of conciliation and adjudication are available. (b) and (c) No. The general policy of Government is to resort to adjudication if and when the method of conciliation has failed. The present machinery for the settlement or disputes has been evolved in consultation with Provincial Governments and general uniformity of practice has already been achieved. 110 * Demolition of a Mosque on Ashoka Road, New Delhi Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : I have received notice of motion of adjournment from Maulvi Abdul Ghani who wants to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the demolition of a mosque in the premises of quarter No. 9, Asoka Road, by the Government Officers and men of the Public Works Department. When did this take place ? Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani (Tirhut Division : Muhammadan): It was done about ten days ago but I got information about it only last night. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): The Honourable Member is not the only person interested. If it is an urgent public matter it is for every one to take notice of it immediately. Why was no notice taken before ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1943, 21st August 1943, p. 897.

677L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan (Agra Division : Muhammadan Rural): Sir, it did not come to the notice of any Member of the House until yesterday, because it was done in one of the Government quarters. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): Then how did the Honourable Member come to know at all about it ? Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : Some passers-by came and informed some Members and made a complaint. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): Have Government anything to say about this ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Labour Member): Sir, I have had no notice of this motion. Evidently my Honourable friend wrote a letter giving notice of this adjournment motion to the Department of Education, Health and Lands, which has been just now handed over to me. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): I want to know the facts. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have made inquiries from my Department and I am told that they do not know of any such incident at all. As I said, I have not had sufficient time to make inquiries in the matter, and I have no reason to suppose that any such demolition has taken place. However, if my Honourable friend chooses to put a short notice question. I will make inquiries and let him have the information he wants. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): I think that will be the best course. Mr. H. A. Sathar H. Essak Sait (West Coast and Nilgiris : Muhammadan): Then this motion can be held over. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : If a short notice question is put I will consider it later. Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : In any case the short notice question cannot be put today and can only be asked on Tuesday if the Assembly sits till then. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): Better ask a short notice question.

678 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 111 * Demolition of a Mosque on Asoka Road, New Delhi Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state : (a) Whether he is aware of the existence of a Mosque in Asoka Road in Government Quarter No. 9 ; (b) Whether the said Mosque has partly been demolished by Public Works Department men at the instance of a Public Works Department Official; (c) Whether the demolition work was stopped due to the agitation by Muslims; (d) What steps the Government have taken to prevent such demolition and whether they have taken steps against the person at fault; if so, with what result; and (e) What steps Government are going to take to remedy the harm done to the building ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes—of an old, dilapidated and unused mosque. (b) No. One of the arches on the northern wing of the mosque accidentally collapsed while felling a tree against which it was leaning. The request for the removal of the tree came from the present occupant of the house-Major Anwar who complained that the tree was obstructing the light. (c) No. (d) There was no demolition by the Central Public Works Department, and so this question does not arise. (e) It is an old dilapidated building, and no harm to it has, therefore, been caused. Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : When the tree was cut, why the precaution was not taken to see that the arch which was leaning against the tree might be kept in a safe condition ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no reason to suppose that due precaution was not taken against such an accident. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1943,25th August 1943, p. 980.

679L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : Even the efficient Engineers of the P. W. D. could not protect one arch ? Am I to take it with all due precaution, they were unable to protect one arch ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Such an accident may happen notwithstanding the due care and attention. Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : When the mosque exists in a quarter which is occupied by the Government and which was open to the public before the Government built their quarter, is it not the duty of the Government to see that it is properly repaired and kept in proper order? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I do not suppose there is any reason to believe that this mosque was in actual use either before or after the quarter was built. Maulana Zafar Ali Khan : Will Government give us an assurance that the demolished portion of the mosque will be restored by necessary repairs ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It is quite unnecessary to do it because it was not used as a mosque nor is it a protected monument. Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : Will the Honourable Member make a way for the public to get into this mosque ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : As I said, it is no longer in use as a mosque. Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : May I know the reason why it is not in use as a mosque ? Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): The Honourable Member is arguing. Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : I want to know whether the Government is going to make it accessible to the public so that it can be used as a mosque ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It has never been in use as a mosque. Maulana Zafar Ali Khan : Has the Government any objection if I carry out the repair at my expense ? The Honourble Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The Honourable Member may make an application and the Department will consider it. Seth Yusuf Abdoola Haroon : Is it not a fact that the occupant of this quarter did object to the cutting of the tree ?