Vol. 13 · pages 1191–1195

SECTION EIGHT Third Reading of the Draft Constitution

The Constituent Assembly of India met in the Constitution Hall, New Delhi, at Ten of the Clock, Mr. President (The Honourable Dr. Rajendra Prasad) in the Chair. (Thursday the 17th November 1949). *Mr. President : We shall now take up the third reading of the Constitution. Dr. Ambedkar. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Bombay : General): Mr. President, Sir, I move : “That the Constitution as settled by the Assembly be passed.” (Cheers) Shri Mahavir Tyagi (United Provinces : General) : Congratulations. Shri H. V. Kamath (C. P. & Berar : General) : Let Dr. Ambedkar kindly speak. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I propose to speak at the end. It is not the usual thing to speak now. The Honourable Shri N. V. Gadgil (Bombay : General) : This question be now put. (Laughter). Shri Mahavir Tyagi : What is the opinion of Dr. Ambedkar about this Constitution we are passing ? Mr. President : I think we must now proceed with the business. Dr. Ambedkar has moved that the Constitution as settled by the Assembly be passed. The Motion is now open for discussion. Yesterday we were discussing the time that we would take for this Third Reading and I requested Members to give me names. Till yesterday evening I had received 71 names of members who want to speak, and some additional names have come this morning; but even as it is, it seems to me that if we take about twenty minutes each and if we sit three days this week and five days next week, we shall have twenty-four hours, and twenty minutes for each speaker will give seventy-two speakers, so far as the time is concerned, I think we can very well manage within this time giving opportunities to every speaker who has expressed a desire to speak. So, it is not necessary to sit longer. ***** Shri H. V. Kamath : Let us sit for four hours. Mr. President : At this rate we shall not require to sit four hours. *CAD, Official Report, Vol. X, 17th November 1949, pp. 607-608. 1161DRAFT CONSTITUTION

Shri H. V. Kamath : If we sit four hours, we will be able to finish the session by next Thursday instead of Friday. If we finish earlier, we will have a longer interval before the session of the Legislature. Dr. P. S. Deshmukh (C. P. & Berar : General) : Some hounourable Members may come here later and give their names hereafter. Mr. President : They may come. We have got some other work also to attend to. Today and tomorrow at any rate or till the end of this week, we sit only for three hours, and if necessary and if we find that sufficient progress is not made, we may have a second session next week. Shri L. Krishnaswami Bharathi (Madras : General) : Is it from ten to one ? Mr. President : Yes. Shri L. Krishnaswami Bharathi : We are quite agreeable. Mr. President : Now, I do not know in what order I should call members. I suppose I must follow the usual practice. If members stand in their places, I shall select one of them. Shri H. J. Khandekar (C. P. & Berar : General) : They should be called alphabetically. Mr. President : I think that would be too mechanical. I shall follow the usual procedure and I hope there will be no difficulty in that. Shri Muniswamy Pillay. 1162 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES