Vol. 10 · pages 941–945

920 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES community this proposal has been now held in abeyance pending clarification of the legal issues involved. (d) In view of my reply to question (b) this question does not arise. (e) The Honourable Member is referred to my reply to question (c). (f) The Honourable Member is referred to my reply to question (c). Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : When the Honourable Member says that the Government has decided to built a wall to stop people going on this Government land, may I ask how does it become Government land ? When it is a grave yard, how does the Honourable Member say that it is Government land ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : As at present advised the Government regard this to be Government land; but I am obtaining legal opinion on it. Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : Does the Honourable Member call all the English cemeteries and the Hindu Cremation ground as belonging to the Government ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : As I said, I am asking for legal opinion. Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : But the Honourable Member has himself said that there is a grave-yard and at the same time he calls it as Government land ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : That is the position as Government is advised at present. Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : By whom ? Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): The Honourable Member has already said that he was taking legal opinion. Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : By whom is he advised ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : By those who are entitled to advise Government. Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani : May I know whether Government has made an acquisition of that portion of the land to which the Honourable Member refers as a grave-yard and mosque. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It is unnecessary to acquire.

921 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 334 * Public Utility Concerns held by Non-Indian Interests 1591. Mr. T. S. Avinashilingam Chettiar : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state : (a) the number of public utility concerns held by British and other non-Indian interests in India; and (b) whether any attempts were made to acquire these public utility concerns ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b). The information asked for is being collected and will be laid on the table of the House. 335 @ Audit of Accounts of Government of India Presses 1596. Sri K. B. Jinaraja Hegde : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state : (a) whether the accounts of the Government of India Presses are annually audited by the Accountant General, Central Revenue, New Delhi; (b) whether copies of the audit reports are sent to his Department for perusal and action; and whether such copies were received in the last two years; if so, the action taken thereon. (c) whether it is a fact that serious discrepancies in the accounts of paper were found in the last two reports and no action was taken on them; if so, what the reasons are; and (d) whether Government propose to place a copy of each of the audit reports for the last two years of the New Delhi Press on the table of the House ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The accounts of the Presses are audited by the Accountant General, Central Revenue and other Accountants General who act on his behalf. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1945, 4th April 1945, p. 2428. @ Ibid., p. 2431.

922 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (b) Reports are submitted by audit to Heads of Departments. Reference is made to Government of India only on points of importance or matters on which settlement cannot be reached. (c) The 1942-43 report revealed certain discrepancies which were mostly due to wrong entries in registers. The matter is still under examination. The 1943-44 report has recently been received and is under examination by the Controller of Printing and Stationery, India. (d) No. Important points are included in the Appropriation Accounts of the Year by the Accountant General, Central Revenues. These accounts are examined by the Public Accounts Committee and their report is laid before the Legislative Assembly. Sri K. B. Jinaraja Hegde : May I know with reference to part (d) of the question whether the Honourable Member will please lay the audit reports on the table of the House ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No, Sir, It is not necessary. These are included in the Public Accounts Committee reports. Sri K. B. Jinaraja Hegde : May I know whether these audit reports are incorporated in full in the Public Accounts Committee reports ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Such parts of it as are necessary for the purposes of the Public Accounts Committee are incorporated. 336 * Central Government Servants not provided with Quarters 1606. Sardar Sant Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state the percentage of Central Government servants servicing in Delhi and New Delhi and having a monthly salary of below Rs. 600 who have not so far been provided with any Government accommodation ? (b) Is it a fact that a Government servant whose monthly salary is below Rs. 600 is not deprived of his quarter when he becomes out of class until accommodation of a higher type can be provided to him ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1945, 4th April 1945, p. 2439.

923 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (c) Will Government please state the number of Government servants in Delhi and New Delhi who were in possession of Government quarters but have been deprived of them on technical ground of transfer from one Government office to another in New Delhi e.g. from Agricultural Institute, Pusa, Government of India Press, New Delhi, A.G.P. & T. etc., to the Government of India Main Secretariat Departments ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) About 65 per cent. (b) Yes. (c) The required information is not readily available and its collection at this stage would not justify the labour involved, but I would inform the Honourable Member that except in the case of the staff transferred from Government of India Press, Agricultural Research Institute and A.G.P. & T’s Office, who have got their separate pool of quarters, no officer is required to vacate his quarter on transfer from one Government office to another in New Delhi. 337 * Plight of Central Government Servants deprived of Quarters on Transfer to another Office in New Delhi 1607. Sardar Sant Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state if it is a fact that in a considerable number of cases where Government servants have been deprived of their quarters, the persons concerned have a total length of permanent service under the Central Government in Delhi and New Delhi for a period of fifteen years or more ? (b) Are Government aware that under the existing conditions, some of these Government servants who had to wait in the beginning for a number of years before they got Government accommodation, will have no chance during their service-life to get Government accommodation again ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1945, 4th April 1945, p. 2439.

924 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (c) Is it a fact that distinction between orthodox and unorthodox quarters has been abolished with a view to enlarge the scope of a Government servant to get accommodation in Delhi and New Delhi ? (d) Do Government propose to consider the cases of Government servants referred to in (a) and (b) above and grant them relief in the matter of accommodation by taking into account their length of service under the Central Government in Delhi and New Delhi. If not, why not? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The Honourable Member’s attention is invited to reply to part (c) of starred question No. 1606. (b) Officers mentioned in my reply to the last question may have to wait for their turn in the general pool, but for how long they may have to wait, I cannot say. (c) Yes. (d) The length of service in the general pool is always the deciding factor. Government do not consider it equitable to alter this rule in favour of any particular groups of Government servants. 338 * Applications for Khas Khas Tatties from Occupants of Government Quarters in Delhi and New Delhi 131. Mr. K. C. Neogy : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether he is aware that formal applications in regard to the supply of khas khas tatties in the residences occupied by Government servants in Delhi and New Delhi during the ensuing Summer Season, 1945, were invited by the 20th March, 1945, vide Additional Chief Engineer (Western Zone) Central Public Works Department, circular memorandum No. WII/3708, dated the 20th February, 1945 and No. WII/3708, dated the 13th March, 1945 ? (b) Is he also aware that the Summer allotment (1945) is not yet out ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1945, 4th April 1945, p. 2449.