Vol. 10 · pages 996–1000

975 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I know the resolution very well. Mr. President: Next question. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : One more question, Sir, Is the Deputy Secretary’s post a Class I post. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: There is no such thing as a Class I post there. 391 * Loss of Public Money in the ‘Delhi Store Sub-Division Embezzlement Case’ 719. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer: (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please give the approximate amount of loss of public money in the ‘ Delhi Store Sub-Division Embezzlement Case ? (b) Who were the culprits, and what action has so far been taken to bring them to book ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) There is no such case as “Delhi Store Sub-Division Embezzlement Case”. If the Honourable Member has in mind the case of alleged over payment in cartage of cement in Stores Sub-Division under Construction Division No. I, I can inform him that the matter is under investigation. (b) Does not arise. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : Is it a fact that the S. D. O. in question who embezzled two lakhs is still in service ? Mr. President: Order, order. The Honourable Member has already stated that there was no embezzlement Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer: I entirely agree with the Honourable Member’s reply. The point which he refers to is the same that a sum of two lakhs was overpaid. Mr. President: My point is that the Honourable Member has replied that there is no case of embezzlement but only a case of overpayment. In his next question the Honourable Member need not again presume embezzlement—he can put a question on the over payment. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1946, 6th March 1946, pp. 1935-36.

976 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: The matter is under investigation and unless and until the result of that investigation is known Government cannot take any action against the officer. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer: I ask whether the S. D. O. concerned who is responsible for this over-payment of 2 lakhs is still in service. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Of course he is. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : Why ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Because the case is not yet proved against him. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : In such cases where matters are under investigation is it not the practice to keep the officer concerned under suspension? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Not unless we receive the report of the investigation. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer: Is it because he is of the Scheduled Caste ? Haji Abdus Sattar Haji Seth: With regard to part (a) about the amount involved-cannot my friend tell me what the amount involved is? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I must have notice of the question. As regards Mr. Jaffer’s question, I would like to inform the Honourable Member that the man does not belong to the Scheduled Castes. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Even if he did belong to the Scheduled Caste, is it wrong not to suspend a man when there is a case against him ? Mr. President: Order, order—No argument. Sri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar : How long has this been under investigation and is it departmental or by the police ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : So far as I remember— I cannot say definitely—the matter of course is investigated by the C. D. 392 * Grievances of Muslims Re: Appointments as Superintending Engineers 720. Mr. Muhammad Rahmat-Ullah: (a) Has the attention of the Honourable the Labour Member been drawn to the articles * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1946, 6th March 1946, p. 1936.

977 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS published in the Dawn of the 27th October, 12th November and 19th December, 1945 ? What action has been taken to redress the grievances of the Mussalmans ? If not, why not ? (b) Is it not a fact that out of the fourteen Superintending Engineers only one is a Muslim ? (c) Are Government aware that there are three qualified Executive Engineers in the Headquarters who are competent to hold the office of Superintending Engineer? (d) Are Government aware that persons of less qualifications and standing of other communities have been appointed Superintending Engineers, if so, why were the claims of the Mussalmans ignored ? (e) Are Government aware that an I. S. E. Muslim Executive Engineer was ignored and the chance of a Superintending Engineer in the Headquarters Office was given to an officer who has risen from the ranks and is to retire very shortly ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) I have seen the articles. The posts in the Central Public Works Department which are subject to the operation of the communal representation rules, are duly filled in accordance with the requirement of those rules. It is, however, not possible to earmark individual posts for officers of a particular community. (b) Yes. (c) It is not clear which Executive Engineers the Honourable Member referring to. None of the Executive Engineers of the Central Public Works Department who are posted in Delhi have, however, become due for promotion to the rank of Superintending Engineer. (d) and (e) The posts of Superintending Engineer are Selection Posts and appointments to these are made purely on the basis of merit. In filling these posts the claims of all eligible Executive Engineers are considered and the officer who is considered to be most suitable is appointed. The case of the I. S. E. Muslim Officer mentioned by the Honourable Member was also duly considered.

978 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 393 * Grant of Money for Taming River Kosi in Bihar 734. Shri Satya Narayan Sinha: (a) Is the Honourable the Labour Member aware that the Governor General, during his last tour of Bihar, had flown to the area devastated by the vagaries of the river Kosi and that he was so much impressed with the pitiable situation obtaining there that he decided to move the Central Government for granting an adequate amount for taming the river and thus to save the lives and properties of the millions of the people concerned ? If so, what is being done in that regard ? (b) Has any project been made ready ? If not, what steps are being taken to expedite the matter which concerns the question of life and death for millions of people ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The Governor General during a recent tour did fly over the area devastated by the Kosi floods and did cause a communication to be sent to the Labour Department emphasising the importance of controlling the river as early as possible. (b) The Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission are conducting the investigations. They have with the permission of the government of Nepal started aerial and ground surveys and the geological and hydrological investigations for the purpose. Investigation is being conducted with a view to planning the control of the Kosi by means of a storage dam in the Nepal Himalayas. Such dam will not only store surplus flood water and the large volumes of coarse silt carried by it and so prevent the damage at present caused by Kosi floods but it is hoped will also provide water for perennial irrigation of an area estimated at 3 million in both Nepal and Bihar and also will offer opportunities for the generation of cheap hydroelectric power. The investigation is being treated as one of high priority. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1946, 6th March 1946, p. 1949.

979 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 394 * Loss to Junior Copyholders in Government Press, New Delhi 740. Maulana Zafar Ali Khan : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member kindly state whether it is a fact that in the Government of India Press, New Delhi many Junior Readers are sustaining a loss of Rs. 10 or Rs. 5 per month in their promotion from the post of a Copyholder to that of a Junior Reader, and that the rate of increment too is Rs. 5 per annum in the case of Copyholders whereas Rs. 3 only for Junior Readers ? (b) What steps do Government propose to take to compensate them for their monetary loss and redress the anomaly in the existing rates of pay of a Copyholder and a Junior Reader ? (c) Is it also a fact that the arrears of the unified scale of pay to Copyholders sanctioned in the month of July, 1945, still remain unpaid, in spite of there being several representations in person ? (d) What are the reasons therefor, and do Government propose to give any compensation for such delay under the Payment of Wages Act ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: (a) Yes, in the case of those Copyholders who chose the unified scale of pay and were later promoted as Junior Readers. (b) The question is under consideration. (c) Yes. (d) Although issued in July 1945 the orders had retrospective effect from September 1st 1944. Time had to be allowed to the employees concerned to elect for the unified scale. Then the pay of those who chose the scale had to be fixed allowing each the benefit of past service to the extent of three years. The accounts authorities are pre-auditing the bills. Payment will be made shortly. The reply to the latter portion of the question is in the negative. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. Ill of 1946, 6th March 1946, p. 1952.