Vol. 15 · pages 1026–1030

1007PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES Shri A. P. Jain : As the final list. Dr. Ambedkar : It is very difficult really to give any precise date, but we hope that it will be ready sometime in January next or February. Seth Govind Das : By what time is the election budget expected to be ready ? Will it be placed before the Parliament ? Dr. Ambedkar : I could not follow. Mr. Speaker : Whether it would be possible to have the estimate of the election expenditure prepared by the time the next Budget is presented and whether that estimate will be placed before Parliament. Dr. Ambedkar : It will be part of the Appropriation Act. Seth Govind Das : By what time is it expected to be ready ? Mr. Speaker : Order, order. Prof. Ranga: Are Government placing before themselves as well as the State Governments any target date by which these lists should be prepared, scrutinised and finalised ? Dr. Ambedkar : Yes. Prof. Ranga : What is that date ? Dr. Ambedkar : I am not informed about it, but as I said we hope that the final electoral rolls will be ready somewhere about the early part of next year. Shrimati Durgabai : May I know whether matters connected with the elections such as those of delimitation of constituencies and the question of bilingual areas also would fall within the scope of this Election Commissioner’s work ? Dr. Ambedkar : Bilingual areas ? Shrimati Durgabai : Delimitation of constituencies ? Dr. Ambedkar : Certainly, they will be dealt with. But I may say that I am proposing to introduce a Bill in this Session to be called the “Representation of the People Bill”, which will make provision for the exercise of the powers which are vested in the Election Commissioner, so that he can proceed with the matter.

1008 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Shri A. P. Jain : May I know, according to the programme at the moment under contemplation of Government, how much time will it take for the final elections to be held after the electoral rolls have been completed ? Dr. Ambedkar : I do not like to speculate. (12) *INCOME-TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNALS 1106. Lala Raj Kanwar : Will the Minister of Law be pleased to lay on the Table a statement showing : (a) The number of Income-Tax Appellate Tribunals functioning in the country and the personnel of each such Tribunal ? (b) How many cases have been instituted and disposed of by these Tribunals during each of the last three years ? (c) What is the number of cases now pending before each of these Tribunals ? The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar) : A statement is placed on the Table. (See Appendix V, Annexure No. 55). (not produced hered) Lala Raj Kanwar : What steps do Government propose to take to expedite disposal of the pending cases ? Dr. Ambedkar : I think the disposal is more or less satisfactory. If it is not satisfactory, Government will institute more Tribunals. Shri T. T. Krishnamachari : May I ask if the salary to be paid for the Members of the Tribunal has been reduced or re-graded recently ? Dr. Ambedkar : I require notice. Shrimati Durgabai : May I know how appointments to these Tribunals are made ? Dr. Ambedkar : They are made by the Public Service Commission. * P. D., Vol. 4, Part I, 24th March 1950, p. 1059.

1009PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (13) * SCHEDULED CASTE EMPLOYEES IN MINISTRY OF LAW 123. Prof. Yashwant Rai: Will the Minister of Law be pleased to state : (a) the number of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes in each of the following categories in the Ministry of Law : (i) Gazetted Officer (ii) Superintendents and Assistants and (iii) Senior Grade and Junior Grade clerks and Stenographers ; (b) whether the number is not as reserved for scheduled castes ; and (c) what special steps Government propose to take to fill in the reserved quota in the spirit of Articles 335 of the Constitution of India ? The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar) : (a) The number of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes in the Ministry of Law is as follows : Gazetted Officers ... ... ... Nil Superintendents ... ... ... Nil Assistants ... ... ... 2 Senior Grade Clerks ... ... ... Nil Junior Grade Clerks ... ... ... 3 Stenographers ... ... ... 1 (b) The number is not up to the percentage reserved for the Scheduled Castes in the categories to which the reservation, rules apply. (c) Attention is invited to paragraph 5 and the second and third sub-paragraphs of paragraph 7 of section II of the Review of the Activities of the Home Ministry for the year 1949. * P. D., Vol. 4, Part I, 24th March 1950, p. 1067.

1010 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (14) *ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HINDU CODE BILL 1352. Shrimati Ammu Swaminadhan: Will the Minister of Law be pleased to state whether any representatives of women’s Organisations have been taken or are proposed to be taken on the non-official Advisory Committee to advise on the Hindu Code Bill ? The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar) : I take it that the reference is to the informal Conference proposed to be held for the ascertainment of representative public opinion both in and outside Parliament, on the Hindu Code Bill, in accordance with the announcement made by the Hon. the Prime Minister on the floor of the House on 19th December 1949 during the discussion on the Bill. It is the intention of Government to make the Conference as representative in character, as possible and the Conference will certainly include representatives of women’s organisations. Shrimati Ammu Swaminadhan : In view of the fact that the Hindu Code affects the women of the country more than the men (Laughter), Sir, I would like to ask for your protection in this matter. Every time that any question of women’s rights comes up in that House, there is general laughter, as if it is a joke. I do not mean it as a joke. I would like the Hon. the Law Minister to tell us whether in view of the fact that the Hindu Code really affects women very largely and there are several women’s organisations in India, they have been asked to send representatives to this Advisory Committee that is going to be called very soon. Dr. Ambedkar : That is what the answer says. Shrimati Ammu Swaminadhan : May I ask him for the names of the women’s organisations from which he has invited representatives to come to this Advisory Committee ? Dr. Ambedkar : I am afraid I do not carry the names in my head but my intention was really to call women’s organisations which were, so far as our information went, not very favourable to the Code. * P. D., Vol. 1, Part I, 3rd April 1950, p. 1267.

1011PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES Shrimati Ammu Swaminadhan : May I ask when this Conference is going to be held ? Dr. Ambedkar : I believe on the 14th of this month. Shri Deshbandhu Gupta : May I know whether, such Members of the House have also been invited, as are opposed to the Code ? Dr. Ambedkar : The Conference is divided into three parts. There are members who represent the Select Committee and members who represent the House. There are others who neither represent the House for the Committee ; they are outsiders. Shri B. Das : May I know whether the Hon. the Law Minister will advise the Government to hold a special Session of this House to pass the Hindu Code Bill ? Dr. Ambedkar : It is not necessary to anticipate it.... Mr. Speaker : Order, order. I will not allow that question. Shri Deshbandhu Gupta : May, I know whether the Hon. Minister has received representations from several quarters suggesting that the conference should be postponed for a few days in view of the Kumbha Mela to enable those who may be going there at the time to attend ? Dr. Ambedkar : I have not received any representations but I have seen some statements in the newspapers. Shri M. A. Ayyangar : May I ask the Hon. Minister as to what principle he adopted in choosing Members from the Select Committee ? Did he try to eschew those people who said anything against the Code ? Dr. Ambedkar : I do not think I had any prediliection in my mind one way or the others. Shri M. A. Ayyangar : May I know how many of those whom he selected from the Select Committee are in favour of the Bill, how many against it, and how many doubtful ? Dr. Ambedkar : I think some were in favour, some were doubtful and some were opposed to it.