Vol. 10 · pages 991–995

970 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 389 * Muslim Administrative Officer in Central Public Works Department 715. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state: (a) the number of posts of Assistant Administrative Officer in the Central Public Works Department, (b) how many of these posts are occupied by Muslims, and (c) if the reply to (b) is in the negative, what steps he has taken to fill the vacant post of Administrative Officer by a suitable Muslim ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Three. (b) None. (c) The inference implicit in tills question does not necessarily follow from (a) and (b) because the Central Public Works Department cadre is and must be treated as one. The subject is however, now under consideration. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer: Since the reply to (b) is none, may I ask the Honourable Member why a Muslim should not be appointed to the post of Administrative Officer ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I did not quite follow. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer: Since there are no Muslim Assistant Administrative Officers, may I ask the Honourable Member why should not the post of Administrative Officer be filled by a Muhammadan ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It is a matter for consideration. I cannot give a guarantee that the post will be reserved for a particular community. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer: Have applications been received for this post? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Applications will not be called for. Maulana Zafar Ali Khan: Has it been advertised ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Not necessarily. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1946, 6th March 1946, p. 1929.

971 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : Why will not a Muslim be appointed. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I said that I cannot give an assurance. Besides, the Government of India cannot accept the principle that any community has a vested right in any particular post. Mr. Ahmad E. H. Jaffer : Particularly in view of the fact that the Honourable Member’s Department is the worst in the Government of India......... Mr. President: Order, order. The Honourable Member will please put the question. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : In view of the fact that the Labour Department is not sufficiently representative of Muslims, may I ask the Honourable Member to consider the appointment of a Muslim to the post? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I deny the assumption of the Honourable Member. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : May I…………. Mr. President: I believe there is one misunderstanding under which the Honourable Member is putting his questions. Will he resume his seat ? What the Honourable Member of Government said was that he makes a distinction between a particular post and the quota in the departmental posts. Am I right ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, Sir. Mr. President: He said he cannot assure a particular post being filled by a particular community. That is different from the quota. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : My submission is that in view of the fact that his Department has not the required quota of Muslim of 25 per cent., will he consider the question of appointing Muslims up to the minimum quota ? Mr. President: Yes, that is proper. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I do not accept the principle that that is the only method. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : Does the Honourable Member deny that his Department has in the services the 25 per cent, quota of Muslims ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I deny it. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : With what result ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I cannot help the result, if there are not sufficient Muslim candidates. That is not my fault. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : May I tell the Honourable Member that

972 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES this is nothing but a lame excuse on the part of the Honourable Member to say that there are not ‘sufficient Muslim candidates’ when they are really available ? Mr. President : Order, order. That will be a criticism. The Honourable Member may put his question. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : May I tell the Honourable Member that sufficient Muslims are forthcoming but their claims are overlooked intentionally. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have nothing to add to what I have said. 390 * Communal Representation in Labour Department 718. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the exact number of joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Superintendents, Assistants, Clerks, etc., in the Establishment Branch of the Department of Labour (Main Secretariat) ? (b) How many Muslims and Non-Muslims are there in each grade ? If the reply to (b) regarding the Muslims is in the negative, what are the reasons therefor? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b) A statement giving the information is placed on the table. (c) Does not arise. STATEMENT Total Muslim Non-Muslim Joint Secretaries 3 1 2 Deputy Secretaries 4 1 3 Assistant Secretaries and Under Secretaries 13 2 11 (including 1 European, 1 Anglo-Indian and 1 Scheduled Caste) Superintendents 21 6 15 (Including 1 Sikh and 1 Indian Christian) Assistants in Establishment Branch 9 2 7 Clerks in Establishment Branch 9 … 9 (Including 1 Scheduled Caste) *Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1946, 6th March 1946, pp. 1933-35.

973 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer: Sir, I did not ask for a statement to be laid on the table of the House, but I want the number to be stated on the floor of the House, as I want to ask supplementary questions. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: May I, Sir, give the figures ? Mr. E. H. Jaffer: There are no figures to give. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, there are. My learned friend need not assume a threatening attitude. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : I am only reciprocating the threatening attitude of the Honourable Member himself. Mr. President: If the list is not too big the Honourable Member may read. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: … … … Total Muslim Joint Secretaries … … … … 3 1 Deputy Secretaries … … … … 4 1 Assistant and under Secretaries … … … 13 2 Superintendents … … … … 21 6 Assistants in Establishment Branch … … … 9 2 Clerks in Establishment Branch … … … 9 … Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : Do these figures include Muslim representation in the Resettlement and Employment Directorate ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I must have notice of that question. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : I asked for the figures of the Labour Department of the Main Secretariat. Cannot the Honourable Member say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, whether these figures include the figures of Muslim representation in the Resettlement and Employment Directorate or not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I must have notice of that question. Haji Abdus Sattar Haji Ishaq Seth : Will the Honourable Member kindly tell us what Department in answer to the question in the establishment branch of the Department. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It is the Main Secretariat. As I said I want notice in order to be accurate in my information.

974 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : Is the Honourable Member aware that the Resettlement and Employment Directorate is quite separate from the Main Secretariat? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Of course I am aware. Mr. Manu Subedar : Why is this large army of Joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, Assistant and Under Secretaries necessary for the Labour Department and may I know whether my Honourable friend would not satisfy my Muslim friends by reducing some of the other communities in order to restore the Muslim proportion which they want? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I do not want to express any opinion on the Honourable Member’s question. Prof. N. G. Ranga: Muslimise the whole Department. Shri Sri Prakas : May I submit in all humility that the Government may lay on the table before the beginning of every session a full list of all the various communities in the various departments, so that the necessity for most of these questions may be obviated and temper kept under control ? Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : In view of the Government Resolution of the Home Department of 1934 fixing a 25 per cent. Quota for the Muslims and in view of the fact that there is shortage of Muslim representation in accordance with this resolution in the Labour Department, will the Honourable Member rectify and make up the quota by employing more Muslims ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The posts to which I have made reference in the course of my reply are not posts which are governed by communal representation. They are promotion posts. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : May I take it that the resolution does not apply to his Department? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The Honourable Member ought to read the Government Resolution more carefully than he seems to have done. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : The other day in reply to Dr. Sir Ziauddin Ahmed the Honourable the Home Member said that Government Resolution does apply to the Labour Department will he transfer the resolution to the Honourable Labour Member ?