Vol. 15 · pages 181–185

164 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES I have fixed 72 in the case of Bihar, Bombay and Madras. It will be noticed that my amendment as a matter of fact while it decreases the total number for Madras by only 3, increase the quota for Bihar and Bombay. There could therefore be no complaint on that account. I was sorry to see that I could not apply the same principle to Punjab because it has only got a minimum. With regard to Bengal, it was felt that if the principle was applied viz., divisible by 12, the number would go down from 51 to 48 and it was felt that Bengal was a big enough State to have at least 51 and I have therefore not touched the figure of these two States. In other cases my friend Mr. Tyagi will see that I have really yielded to his principle. With regard to the question of extending the Fourth Schedule to Village Panchayats or the Headmen of the Panchayats, I am sorry to say that I am not able to accept that suggestion for the simple reason that it is felt, I am sure, in large sections of this House that to include Village Panchayats as bodies who would have the right to send their representatives would merely be the duplication of the same electorate because in view of the fact that we are going to have adult suffrage, practically every member of the Village Panchayat would also have a vote in the election of the Lower House of that State and therefore it would be a needless duplication and I am not therefore prepared to accept his suggestion. Shri Barman (West Bengal): What about the Members of the Municipalties and District Boards ? Dr. Ambedkar: They might be, I cannot help it but to extend it to Panchayats would be a complete duplication of the votes—a sort of double voting—and I am not prepared to accept it. I do not know whether there is any other point. For Madras it is only a reduction of 3. With regard to Delhi, whatever my friend may say, I have no doubt about it that the House has been more than generous. Shri Syamnandan Sahaya: He himself is more than happy.

165PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES Dr. Ambedkar: It is not only being correct but very considerate. Syed Nausherali: What about the Union Boards ? Dr. Ambedkar: I quite see that the opinion of the Bengal Government and the view expressed by my two hon. friends today seem to differ. Some say the local board entry which has been suggested by the West Bengal Government should be retained and my two friends stated that it ought to be deleted and the entry of Union Boards should be there. Syed Nausherali: Both may be there. Dr. Ambedkar: I shall have to make some enquiries on this point. If I find that it is necessary to make a change it would not be difficult to bring in a small amendment to make the change. For the moment I must act upon advice which I think is reliable. Shri J. R. Kapoor: What are the special reasons for increasing the number of seats of Bombay State from 66 to 72, when the next divisible number by 12 is 60. Dr. Ambedkar: It is not a very wide difference. There is nothing sacred about one number or the other. All I want is divisibility by 12. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Bombay is a composite Province consisting of Gujaratis, Marathis and Karnataks. (The First, Second, Third and Fourth Schedules as amended were added to the Bill. ) Clause 1 was added to the Bill. (The motion moved by Dr. Ambedkar was adopted). zz

SECTION III 1ST AUGUST 1950 TO 22ND DECEMBER 1950