Vol. 15 · pages 1056–1060

1037PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (b) The ballot boxes are all of designs approved by the Election Commission and are more or less of a uniform type, except for variations in locking arrangements. Ballot papers are of a uniform type. (c) Yes, the ballot boxes will be printed in two colours, one colour to be used for elections to the House of the People and the other for elections to the State Legislative Assembly. The ballot papers also will be similarly distinguishable. Each candidate will have a ballot box allotted to him at each polling booth, and the boxes of different candidates will be identified by means of labels pasted thereon bearing familiar and easily distinguishable symbols, such as flower, hut, tree, human hand, plough, elephant, etc., Each candidate will have a symbol allotted to him. These arrangements will make it easy for illiterate voters to cast their votes freely. Shri R. C. Upadhyaya: May I know if the Government have procured steel for the purpose of manufacture of ballotboxes ? Dr. Ambedkar: Yes. How can the boxes be manufactured without steel ? Ch. Ranbir Singh : How many days ahead of the elections will be symbols be known to the electorates ? Dr. Ambedkar: I suppose the symbol will be allotted on the day the scrutiny is complete and the nomination paper is finally accepted. It is for the candidate to advertise what his simbol is among his voters. Shri J. N. Hazarika: May I know the basis on which the number of ballot boxes required for election purposes has been ascertained, and in so ascertaining whether geographical considerations have also been borne in mind ? Dr. Ambedkar: It depends upon the number of voters, the capacity of the polling booth etc. I have got here figures as to the number of ballot boxes each State has requisitioned for the purpose of conducting the elections. It is a long list. An. hon. Member: He wants for Assam. Dr. Ambedkar: For Assam the total number of ballot boxes are 50,000.

1038 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Mr. Speaker : I do not think it need be read. The Question Hour is over. (31) *DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT 3476. Shri Sonawane : (a) Will the Minister of Law be pleased to State whether there is a proposal before Government for the dissolution of Parliament in view of the ensuing general elections in November-December 1951? (b) If so, when will Parliament be dissolved, whether before or after the results of elections are known ? The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar) : (a) and (b) The attention of the hon. Member is drawn to article 379(1) of the Constitution. By virtue of this article, this provisional Parliament have been duly constituted and summoned to meet for the first session. Accordingly, there will be no dissolution of this Parliament before the general elections take place in November-December next, or even after the results of those elections are announced. It will automatically cease to function as soon as the new Houses of Parliament have been summoned to meet for first session. (32) **ELECTORAL POLLS 3611. Shri Kishorimohan Tripathi : (a) Will the Minister of Law be pleased to State whether sufficient arrangement has been made to meet all possible demands of electoral rolls during the coming elections ; (b) Is there any estimate of such demands and if so, what is its basis ; (c) What will the electoral rolls cost approximately for candidates contesting for (i) House of People seat; (ii) Council of States seat; and (iii) a seat in either House of State Legislature ? *P. D., Vol. 7, Part I, 25th April 1951, p. 3556. **bid., 28th April 1951, p. 3702.

1039PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar) : (a) Yes. (b) While it is not possible to make any precise estimate as to the probable demand for copies of the electoral rolls, arrangements have been made to ensure that every duly nominated candidate and every organised party in a constituency will be able to obtain a copy. (c) The information is being collected by the Election Commission and will be laid on the Table of the House in due course. (33) *WEST BENGAL LEGISLATURE (VACANCIES) 3845. Shri Chattopadhyaya : Will the Minister of Law be pleased to State— (a) how many seats in West Bengal Legislature were lying vacant . for more than a year in 1950-51; (b) for how many of them no elections have been held as yet; (c) whether they will be filled up before the coming general election; and (d) the reason for their lying vacant so long ? The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar) : (While the Government of India as such are not concerned with the filling of casual vacancies in the State Legislatures, the following information has been obtained from the Election Commission:— (a) Seven, (b) Two (c) It is expected that bye-elections to fill the remaining two seats will be held very soon. (d) The delay in filling these vacancies is stated to be due to the uncertainty which existed for some time in regard to the term of the present West Bengal Legislative Assembly owing firstly to the proposed re-constitution of that Assembly and secondly to the earlier decision to hold the general elections in April-May, 1951. *P. D., Vol. 7, Part I, 5th May 1951, p. 3931.

1040 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Shri Chattopadhyay: Am I to understand, then, that the Central Government has got no responsibility to see that vacancies in the State Legislatures are filled up without any delay ? Dr. Ambedkar: No. there is no responsibility. It is entirely a matter for the Provincial Government and the Rajpramukh or Governor. Shri Chattopadhyay : Of these constituencies lying vacant for more than a year, may I know how many are general constituencies and how many trade union constituencies ? Dr. Ambedkar: I am afraid I have no information. Dr. M. M. Das: May I know whether it is a fact that during the last two months, four bye-elections have been held in West Bengal ? Dr. Ambedkar: I can say nothing on the subject; I have no information, as I said. Prof. S. L. Saksena: Is the Hon. Minister aware that in the U. P. also there are seats which are vacant for more than a year ? Mr. Speaker : Order, order, the Hon. Minister has already said that he has no responsibility. Next question. (34) *GENERAL ELECTIONS IN MADRAS 3866. Shri P. Basi Reddi: (a) Will the Minister of Law be pleased to State whether it is a fact that the Madras Legislative Council has by a resolution requested Government to hold the General elections in that State not earlier than February 1952 ? ‘ (b) If so, what action has Government taken in the matter ? The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar): (a) Yes. (b) Government do not consider that the reasons urged in the Madras Legislative Council in passing the resolution are sufficiently weightly to warrant the postponement of the elections in that State to February, 1952. * P. D., Vol. 7, Part I, 5th May 1951, p. 3955.

1041PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES Shri P. Basi Reddi: Have any other State Governments made similar requests; if so, what are those Governments ? Dr. Ambedkar: None. Shri Kesava Rao : May I know whether Government is aware that November and December are rainy months in Madras and it is not possible to hold elections at that time ? Mr. Speaker: They are supposed to be aware of it. Seth Govind Das: Will the Hon. Minisater be pleased to assure us that the general elections will be held all over the country before 31st December, 1951 ? Dr. Ambedkar: That is the intention of the Government. Shri J. N. Hazarika: In order to give opportunities to the cultivators to participate fully in the first National General Election, will Government not allow the elections to take place after the paddy harvesting season which is in January and February in certain States including Assam ? Dr. Ambedkar: Government has fixed a period of two months. Within that period any State is free to choose any period it likes. Shri Brajeshwar Prasad: Has the attention of Government been drawn to the news published in the morning papers that elections would be held in February next ? Dr. Ambedkar: I have read it, but I am not responsible for that news. Shri P. Basi Reddi : Have any other State Governments made similar request; if so, what are they ? Dr. Ambedkar: I have already answered that. My answer was ‘No’. Shri Venkataraman: Has the Mysore Government made a similar recommendation like Madras that the elections may be held in February or March ? Dr. Ambedkar: No such information has come to my notice. Shri Dwivedi: In view of the fact that the delimitation of constituencies in certain States is still under the consideration of this House, may I know whether elections in those States will be held by the time they are held in other States ?