2. The Cabinet Mission and the Untouchables: by Dr. Ambedkar

chance (grace chance), in the Government of India Press, New Delhi, were given to understand that if they would succeeded in examination they would remain junior to all qualified men who passed in the first and second chances ; (b) whether the existing rule was in force in the month of May, 1942, when the examination was held in the Government of India Press, New Delhi ; and (c) whether the rule regarding the promotion of qualified Copyholders and Readers is going to be amended very shortly in such a way that those men who passed the examination in the third chance are now going to be declared senior to all ; if so, why ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No.

(b) Yes.

(c) The attention of the Honourable Member is invited to the reply given to parts (d) and (f) of Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi’s starred question No. 231 and part (c) of Mr. Muhammad Hussain Choudhury’s question No. 501.

186

* High-handedness of Landlords in Delhi

647. Mr. Kailash Biliari Lall : Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state :

(a) if the attention of Government has been drawn to the article published in the Hindi weekly named Vaishya Samachar of Delhi under the heading “Delhi me Makandaron ki Nadirshahi” in its issue of the 12th March, 1944 ; (b) if Government have ascertained that actually influential and rich houseowners, resort to such tyrannies as have been described in the article, in question, in alliance with the police officers ;

(c) if it is a fact, that, as stated in the paper, the house rent in the Maliwars Mohalla in Old Delhi has gone so high as from Rs. 9 to Rs. 21/4/-;

(d) if Government propose to get the allegations described in the paper equired into, and to take suitable steps to stop the high handedness of the manner alleged with regard to the question of house rent in Old Delhi; and

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1944, 27th March 1944, pp. 1571-72.

(e) the difficulties in the way of Government in applying the same law to Old Delhi which regulates and controls the rent in New Delhi ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Enquiries are being made of the local authorities and a reply will be laid on the table of the House at an early date.

187

* Representation of Scheduled Castes in Food Department

648. Mr. Piare Lall Kureel : (a) Will the Honourable the Food Member be pleased to state the communal representation including that of Scheduled Castes in the Gazetted and NonGazetted Staff of the Food Department and the Executive and Provincial organizations thereunder ?

(b) Are Government satisfied with the present representation of Scheduled Castes in the Food Department ? If not, what practical steps do they propose to take in order to secure their due representation in the said Department?

(c) Do Government propose to reduce the educational qualifications for the above Gazetted and Non-Gazetted posts in the case of Scheduled Castes ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Sir Jwala Prasad Srivastava : (a) I. Gazetted Posts :

Europeans … … … 22 Anglo-Indians … … … 1 Hindus other than Scheduled Castes … 60 Muslims … … … 22 Other Minority Communities … … 8 Scheduled Castes … … … 1 II. Non-Gazetted Posts :

Europeans … … … 3 Anglo-Indians … … … 3 Hindus other than Scheduled Castes … 445 Muslims … … … 149 Other Minority Communities … … 52 Scheduled Castes … … … 1

*Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1944, 27th March 1944, pp. 1571-72.

(b) The reply to the 1st part is in the negative. With regard to the second part, I would invite the Honourable Member’s attention to Home Department Resolution No. 23/5/42-Ests. (S), dated the 11th August, 1943, under which 8 1/3per cent of all vacancies to be filled by direct recruitment are to be reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates and certain concessions in regard to age limit and fees have been granted to such candidates. Vacancies are advertised in important newspapers for the information of all candidates. (c) No. According to the orders issued under the Home Department Resolution, to which I have referred, a minimum standard of qualifications has to be prescribed in all cases and the reservation of vacancies for members of Scheduled Castes is subject to this condition.

188

* Hardships suffered by Tenants in Old Delhi and Shahdara

191. Mr. Muhammad Azhar Ali: (a) Is the Honourable Member for Labour aware of the hardships suffered by the tenants in Old Delhi and Shahdara ?

(b) Are Government aware that some rich landlords have increased the rent by 150 per cent during the last two years and in spite of the applications of the Punjab Urban and Rural Act ? (c) Is it a fact that some landlords have cut off water connections and electric connections with a view to bring pressure on tenants to vacate the premises or increase the rent ?

(d) Do Government propose to extend to Old Delhi and Shahdara the provisions of Rent Control Act lately applied for protection of New Delhi tenants ? If not, why not ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes, gnerally. (b) and (c). I am aware that increases in rent have taken place, but under the Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1941, these are matters for the decision of the courts. (d) There are administrative difficulties in the extension of the New Delhi House Rent Control Order, 1939, to the areas in question but the Government of India have other measures under consideration.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1944, 27th March 1944, pp. 1571-72.

* Irregularities reported under Payment of Wages Act against East Indian Railway

54. Mr. Ananga Mohan Dam : (a) Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state the nature of irregularities reported by the Inspector under the Payment of Wages Act against the East Indian Railway since 1938, and the action taken thereon by the Government, by the Railway Board and by the Railway Administration, respectively ? If no action has been taken, what are the reasons therefor ?

(b) Have any of these irregularities been repeated in reports from year to year ?

(c) What action has been taken on the irregularities referred to in part (b) ? If not, why not ?

(d) What are the reasons for not taking proceedings under the Payment of Wages Act against the Railway Administration for the repetition of irregularities ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b) Information is being obtained and will be placed on the table of the House in due course.

(c) The irregularities detected were brought to the notice of Railway Administration for rectification.

(d) Government does not consider it necessary to proceed formally under the Act when satisfactory settlement in individual cases can be otherwise achieved.

190 @ Technical Experts Recruited for Training of War Technicians

222. Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the number of technical experts recruited by the Government of India for the training of War Technicians ? What is their monthly emoluments including salary and other allowances ?

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1944, 30th March 1944, p. 358. @ Ibid., 25th February 1944, p. 539.

(b) What is the total number of centres of War Technicians, and how many of these are in close association with Engineering Colleges and Railway Workshops ?

(c) How many of these expert Instructors are posted in War Technician Centres associated with Engineering Colleges and Railway Workshops ?

(d) Now that the Indians have already been trained, can these Instructors be more usefully employed elsewhere ? (e) Is it a fact that these expert Instructors have also been allotted a duty of inspecting other centres in addition to teaching work ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Apparently the reference is to British Specialist Instructors. 100 British Specialist Instructors were recruited, of whom 87 are now in service. Their emoluments range between Rs. 620 and Rs. 872 per month with free furnished quarters or lodging allowance in lieu plus conveyance allowance in suitable cases. (b) total number of training centres under the technical Training Scheme … … 270 Centres in Engineering Colleges … … 12 Centres in Railway Workshops … … 27 (c) 10 in each.

(d) In the opinion of Government they cannot be more usefully employed than in connection with the training of technicians. (e) Yes, in a few cases.

Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : Has any centre been established in Karachi ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I want notice. Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : Is it not a fact that these expert instructors who are deputed to centres associated with Engineering Colleges or workshops have got additional duties of inspecting centres which have been established outside these institutions. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : As I said, yes, in a few cases.

Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : May I know if these experts who are associated with Engineering Colleges are subject to the discipline of Government or are associated with other members of the staff of the college concerned ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I want notice. Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : Are the Government aware of this fact that these experts who are associated with Engineering Colleges do not consider themselves to belong to the staff of the Engineering College and they do not consider that they are subject to the discipline to which members of the staff are subjected; are the Government aware of the fact that they spend a good deal of time in inspecting other institutions and they consider the teaching job to be unattractive, and they have no heart in their teaching work ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I will enquire into what my Honourable friend has said.

191

* Strike in the Government of India Press

230. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi: (a) Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state if it is or it is not a fact that as a result of great discontent among the employees of the Government Press, a strike took place on the 1st December, 1942, which was pacified by the visits of the Labour Secretary and the Labour Welfare Officer, to whom the major grievances were given by the workers ?

(b) What has been done by Government to remove their grievances especially about the following :

(i) the grant of dearness allowance to the Press employees on the lines of Railway rates;

(ii) the grant of casual leave to all the industrial employees; (iii) the levy of a uniform rate of five per cent house-rent on all the employees, irrespective of their date of occupation of Press quarters;

(iv) the revision of the numerous existing grades of pay of the employees of the Binding Branch into one time-scale of pay, so as to afford a living wage; and (v) the grant of at least old scales of pay to all the employees of the Press ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1944, 25th February 1944, p. 546.

(b) (i) and (iii) As the questions affected all services, the requests of the Press employees for separate treatment have not been acceded to. I may add that it was decided on the representation of the Press Workers that dearness allowance should not be included in calculating the rent payable by occupants of Government residences.

(ii) and (iv) Both the questions are at present under consideration. Steps are being taken to expedite a decision on them.

(v) This is not the opportune time to undertake a general revision of scales of pay. Such a revision can only be undertaken after the war in the light of post-war conditions. 192

* Promotion of Qualified Copyholders and Revisers as Readers in the Government of India Presses

231. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state :

(a) whether it is a fact that the case of amending the rule regarding the promotion of qualified copyholders and revisers as readers in the Government of India Presses, is pending consideration in the office of the Controller of Printing and Stationery, India, for more than 1 1/2 years;

(b) whether it is a fact that the views of all the Government of India Presses, their Works Committees and Workers Unions, were invited by the Controller of Printing and Stationery on the subject;

(c) whether it is a fact that the Controller of Printing and Stationery also suggested to postpone the Readership Examination for an indefinite period, i.e. till all the qualified men on the waiting list were absorbed as readers permanently;

(d) whether it is a fact that some qualified copyholders and revisers with more than fifteen years’ service at credit have, according to the present rules, been rendered junior to those who have put in only four or five years’ service, though all qualified together in the same examination;

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1944, 25th February 1944, pp. 546-47.

(e) whether it is a fact that some who passed the Readership Examination in the year 1936, in the first attempt, have become junior to those who qualified after four years (in 1940), in the second attempt; and (f) if the answers to parts (a) to (c) above be in the affirmative, whether the Honourable Member proposes to remove the anomalies of the rules, and to expedite the final decision of the case, so that the Readership Examination, due in May, 1944, in the Government of India Press, New Delhi, may not be postponed for want of decision; if not, what advantage is in view in keeping the decision in abeyance for so long ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a), (b) and (c) Yes. The delay in finalising the decision of Government on the points raised is due to the widely divergent views expressed by the different parties whose opinions were invited. (d) Certain anomalies involved in die application of the rules have been brought to the notice of Government. Proposals to remove them are at present under the consideration of Government.

(c) The question does not arise. Appointments to the posts of readers are made by seniority and not by merit on the results of a qualifying examination.

(f) As stated in reply to (d) above, proposals regarding the amendment of the rules on the subject have been received and are under examination. It is hoped to issue orders well before the next readership examination in the Government of India Press, New Delhi (due in May 1944) is held.

193

* Amendments to the New Delhi Rent Control Order Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether amendments to the New Delhi Rent Control Order announced on January 24th, 1944, arc applicable, retrospectively, as was stated by his Joint Secretary, Mr. Mozumdar,

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1944, 28th February 1944, pp. 657-58

at a Press Conference, the account of which was published in the New Delhi Statesman of January 27th ?

(b) Is he aware that these amendments are interpreted by the Delhi courts to apply retrospectively ?

(c) If the intention of Government was not to give these amendments retrospective effect, do they propose to issue a clarification of their intention, in view of the interpretation placed on them by the Delhi courts ? If not, why not ? (d) Is he aware that a copy of the Gazette Extraordinary, dated the 24th January, in which these amendments were announced was privately handed over by his office to Mr. Shiva Rao, New Delhi correspondent of the Hindu, at a time when copies were not available to the public, to enable Mr. Shiva Rao to take advantage of it, in case of ejectment which was pending in Delhi civil courts and judgment on which was to be announced on January 25th ?

(e) Is he aware that his Joint Secretary, Mr. Mozumdar, has issued orders that house No. 7 Barakhamba Road in which Mr. Shiva Rao resides as a tenant, should be requisitioned, in case Mr. Shiva Rao was ejected in pursuance of the decree if given in favour of his landlord by the civil court ? If these allegations are correct, does the Honourable Member propose to institute an enquiry in the alleged partiality of the Government servants ? (f) Is it a fact that Mr. Mozumdar had issued orders that in the event of Mr. shiva Rao being ejected, he should be provided with a three-roomed hutment by Government ? Do Government propose to provide similar facilities to other journal in New Delhi ? If not, why not ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No such Statement was made by Joint Secretary, Labour Department. (b) We have no information on the subject.

(c) No. The interpretation of Statutes and Orders is a matter for the courts and not for Government.

(d) No. The allegation is incorrect.

(e) Yes, the order was passed because the house would, in the event mentioned, have fallen vacant and be available for use by Government. There is no question of Government requisitioning it for Mr. Shiva Rao. It is the policy of Government to requisition all available accommodation in Delhi that may fall vacant.

(f) NO.

Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : What is the intention of Government ? Do they want to give it retrospective effect or not ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The legal intention is always for the Courts to interpret. Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : The Courts will undoubtedly interpret, but what is the order of the Government ? Is it to have retrospective effect or is it only for the future ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : That is a matter which must be left to the Courts.

Mr. N. M. Joshi : Is it not a fact that landlords in Delhi are harassing their tenants in order to profiteer and what steps are Government taking to stop it ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no information that the landlords are harassing, but we had a deputation from the tenants who placed before Government certain complaints and the amendment of the New Delhi Rent Control Order was made to meet some of the grievances. Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan : In this case the house owner is a retired Executive Engineer, Rai Bahadur Durgadas, who has a big family of 20 persons, whom he cannot accommodate anywhere else.

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no information on the point.

Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani: Is it the intention of the Government to clarify the effect of any order passed if the Court feels any ambiguity ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I do not follow the Honourable Member’s question.

Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani : May I know whether the Government propose to issue any clarification of their order passed regarding the applicability of its retrospectiveness to the Court ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Certainly, if there is any ambiguity it will be the duty of the Government to clarify it.

Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : Is the order very clear or does it require any interpretation ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I can supply a copy to my Honourable friend.

Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : My question is this : Is the order clear and unambiguous or liable to interpretations ? The Honourable member says that the Court will interpret it. The Court will undoubtedly do it but only in the latter case. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I do not know what my Honourable friend wants to convey.

Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: My question is this. The Honourable Member said that order may be interpreted by the Court. But I say, is the order itself liable to interpretations, on which the Honourable Member says that it will be to the Court………..

Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : That is an argument.

Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : I am putting the question. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : Order, order.

194

* Employment of Women for Underground Work in Collieries

701. Mr. K. S. Gupta : (a) Is the Honourable Member for Labour aware that Mr. Sorensen described the recruiting of women to work in coal mines in India as “most serious and retrograde step” ?

(b) Is it not a fact that the price of foodstuffs and other necessities of life have gone up four to five times the pre-war rates while wages

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1944, 30th March 1944, p. 1745.

in the majority of the collieries are now 50 per cent above the pre-war rates ?

(c) Is it a fact that women are allowed to work in coal mines because the required number of men are not available for working in the mines ?

(d) Is it not a fact that amenities for service in collieries are far below the requirements of workers, which forced the men workers to seek service elsewhere for pay and prospect far superior to those of collieries ?

(e) Is it not a fact that women are prohibited from working in collieries and for services underground (i.e., mines other than coal) in the United Kingdom and the United States ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) I have seen press notices to this effect.

(b) I have no precise information regarding the rise in the cost of living in the coalfields compared with pre-war. Foodstuffs are provided for coalminers at concession rates. (c) Yes.

(d) There is evidence that coalmining labour sought service on military works in the neighbourhood of collieries in preference to working in coalmines. As regards the amenities, I would refer the Honourable Member to part (c) of my reply to his question No. 273 on the 1st March, 1944.

(c) Women are not allowed to work underground in the United Kingdom. Women are, however, employed in some surface work in collieries. I have no information regarding the United States.

Mr. N. M. Joshi : May I ask whether it is a fact that the price of rice in pre-war days was 12 seers to the rupee and the present price charged in the coal areas for miners is 6 seers to the rupee ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no precise information on the point.

* Employment of Women for Underground Work in Collieries

702. Mr. K. S. Gupta : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether the shortage of coal is the reason for the Government of India to lift the ban on women working underground ? If so, have Government taken into consideration that the price of human life is more precious than the production of coal ?

(b) Does the Honourable Member know that such permission would not be tolerated for a moment in England or elsewhere ? (c) Is it not a fact that decent conditions of life and adequate wages are not available for workers in the Indian collieries ? (d) Is it not a fact that scientific extraction of coal is not available in India as in the United Kingdom and the United States of America ?

(e) Does the Honourable Member know that subsidence of earth and explosions of coal gas are more frequent in Indian collieries than elsewhere for want of adequate precautions and existence of primitive methods adopted in extraction of the ore ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. (b) Women are not allowed underground in coalmines in Great Britain. I have no information regarding other countries. (c) As I stated in answer to the Honourable Member’s Question No. 274 on the 1st March, 1944, working conditions in mines have not been very satisfactory. Every effort is being made to see that conditions of life arc improved and that adequate wages are paid.

(d) Mechanisation in Indian coal mines is not so far advanced as in the United Kingdom and the United States. (e) Collapses or subsidence are not more frequent in Indian mines than in other countries where the coal scams are near the surface. Gas explosions are not so frequent in Indian mines as in coalmines of most other countries. Safety precautions taken in this country compare favourable with those adopted in any other country.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1944, 30th March 1944, pp. 1745-46.

* Closing of Openings in D.I.Z. Area Squares, New Delhi

704. Sardar Sant Singh : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the reasons for which openings on the corners and in the middle of the various squares in the D.I.Z. area in New Delhi were closed ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The reason for closing the passages was to prevent people from committing nuisance on them. This action was taken at the suggestion of the Public Health Department.

197 @ Labour Unrest in Karachi Port Trust

715. Seth Yusuf Abdoola Haroon : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state if his attention has been drawn to the memorandum issued by Kazi Mohamcd Mujtaba, General Secretary, Sind Provincial Trade Union Congress, under the heading “A few facts about the labour unrest in Karachi Port Trust” ?

(b) Is it a fact that 2,384 workers of the Karachi Port Trust have demanded the appointment of an adjudicator to look into their demands ?

(c) Is it a fact that the Labour Welfare Officer of the Government of India had made certain recommendations after his visit to Karachi in July, 1943 ? (d) If the reply to the above is in the affirmative, what action have Government taken or propose to take in the matter ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The Honourable Member, for War Transport has agreed to answer this question.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1944, 30th March 1944, p. 1746. @ Ibid., p. 1751.

* Proposed Conversion of Civil Pioneer Force into Auxiliary Pioneer Force

717. Mr. Piare Lall Kureel : Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state :

(a) whether Government intend to convert the Civil Pioneer Force into the Auxiliary Pioneer Force ; and (b) if the answer to part (a) be in the affirmative, when do Government propose to convert the Civil Pioneer Force into the Auxiliary Pioneer Force, whether during or after the War ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No.

(b) Does not arise.

199 @ Pay of Pioneers in Civil Pioneer Force

718. Mr. Piare Lall Kureel: (a) Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state if it is a fact that the pay of a pioneer in the Civil Pioneer Force is Rs. 15 a month only ? (b) Does the Honourable Member consider the present pay of a pioneer adequate under the present economic condition of the country ?

(c) Do Government propose to increase the pay of the pioneers as they have done in case of soldiers in the Indian Army ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The basic rate of pay of a Pioneer in the Civil Pioneer Force is Rs. 15 a month. If he is serving in a war area where a similar allowance is admissible to members of the Defence Services, he is allowed batta at the rate of Rs. 3-8-0 per month.

(b) Considering that a Pioneer in addition to his pay is provided with free rations, free accommodation, free uniform and equipment, the pay is adequate.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1944, 30th March 1944, p. 1752. @ Ibid. p. 1752.

(c) The matter will be considered in respect of persons employed in a War Area.

200

* Non-Payment of Allowance to Tailors in Civil Pioneer Force

719. Mr. Piare Lall Kureel : (a) Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state whether clerks, sweepers and washermen, attached to the Second Unit of the United Provinces Civil Pioneer Force get Rs. 5 each as allowance per month ?

(b) If the answer to the part (a) above be in the affirmative, why is the same allowance not given in the case of tailors attached to the said Force ?

(c) Docs the Honourable member propose to remedy the grievances of the tailors in this respect ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Owing to the difficulty of recruiting barbers, washermen and sweepers, Provincial Governments are allowed to grant those categories special trade allowance in accordance with the situation in the provinces in respect of each of the categories up to a maximum of Rs. 5 per month. It is open to the Provincial Governments to recommend a trade allowance in respect of categories other than those referred to above, including tailors.

(b) No recommendation has been made by the Government of the United Provinces for any special allowance being granted to tailors.

(c) The Government of India do not consider that any action is necessary.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1944, 30th March 1944, p. 1752.

* Applications under Payment of Wages Act against Illegal Deductions, etc. by Railway Administrations

222. Mr. Muhammad Azhar Ali : Will the Honourable Member for Labour please slate the number of applications in each year presented by persons referred to in Section 15 (2) of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, respectively, to the Authority since the 1st April,1938, for directions against illegal deductions and delayed payment, respectively, by the Railway Administrations separately ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Government have no information regarding the number of applications presented by railway employees under section 15 (2) of the Payment of Wages Act. The collection of the information required will involve an amount of labour which will not be justified by the results achieved. 202 @ Cases of Infringement of Hours of Work for Railway Employees not covered by Factories Act

223. Mr. Muhammad Azhar Ali: Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state the number of cases of infringement of the Hours of Work for employees on Railways not covered by the Factories Act since 1931, and the action taken thereon ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Information is being obtained and will be placed on the table of the House in due course. 203

† Functions and Duties of Central Electricity Board, etc.

224. Mr. Muhammad Azhar Ali: Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state the functions and duties of: (i) the Central Electricity Board,

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. Ill of 1944, 30th March 1944, p. 1757. @ Ibid., p. 1757.

† Ibid., p. 1757.

(ii) the Delhi Central Electric Power Authority Board, and (iii) the Central Electric Power Control Board ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (i) The Central Electricity Board is the authority set up under section 36-A of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910, for making rules under Section 37 of that Act. (ii) The Delhi Central Electric Power Authority Ltd., is a private company and acts as a Central Organisation in Delhi Province for the generation or purchase in bulk of electric energy and for its distribution to bulk consumers, i.e. those who undertake to consume or to pay for not less than 5,00,000 units per annum. (iii) The functions of the Central Electric Power Control Board are : (a) to advise the Government of India regarding any measure of control to be applied to the supply of electricity by any public electricity supply undertaking;

(b) to administer such control, as may have been approved by the Government of India in the case of any public electric supply undertaking and, in particular, to issue permits for new supplies of electricity or for restriction of existing supplies in accordance with the general principles laid down by the Government of India;

(c) to collect such information from public electricity supply undertakings as it considers necessary in order to be in a position to advise Government regarding the necessities of control and as to the areas in which surplus electric power is likely to be available; and (d) to collect such information as may be required to assist in co-ordinating the development and utilization of electric power on the best lines in furtherance of the general interests of the war effort and industrial development of India.

204

* Electricity Charges paid by Consumers in Shahdara, Delhi

225. Mr. Muhammad Azhar Ali: Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state :

(a) if it is a fact that (i) the Central Electricity Board, (ii) the Delhi Central Electric Power Authority Board, and

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1944, 30th March 1944, pp. 1757-58.

(iii) the Central Electric Power Control Board have supervision, power and control on the supply of electric to Shahdara town;

(b) if it is a fact that the Pitkeathly Report recommended a uniform charge for current consumption within the Province of Delhi;

(c) if it is a fact that the licence granted to the Upper Jumna Valley Electricity Company, Limited, for distribution of current to Shahdara town was on a date before the Pitkeathly Report; if so, the reasons for not amending the licence on the recommendations of that Report and reducing the charges from annas-/6/- per unit to annas-/4/- per unit; and (d) whether Government propose to give the licence for distribution to a company whose service will be less expensive by inviting tenders; if not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Assuming that the Honourable Member’s reference to the supervision, power and control on the supply of electricity to Shahdara town, is in regard to the conditions and rates of supply, the authorities mentioned are not responsible in the matter. (b) No.

(c) First Part—Yes. Second Part—The Report did not recommend that the licence be amended.

(d) Until such time as it is found possible to give a supply of energy to the Shahdara licensee from the Central Power House in Delhi, the rates which the Shahdara licensee is charging (and which are within the terms of his licence) cannot be regarded as excessive, and there can be no question of giving a second distribution licence to any person for this area. 205

* Electricity Charges paid by Consumers in Shahdara, Delhi

226. Mr. Muhammad Azhar Ali : Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state :

(a) if it is a fact that the Upper Jumna Valley Electricity Company, Limited, pays the United Provinces Government for the supply at annas -/2/6 per unit;

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1944, 30th March 1944, p. 1758.

(b) if it is a fact that the said Company charges the consumers of Shahdara town at annas -/6/- per unit; (c) at what rate the Company calculate the operating charges; and (d) the number of consumers in each year from 1939, together with the amount of expenditure in each year for the maintenance of services by the said Company ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b) Yes. (c) Government have no information.

(d) A statement giving the number of consumers is appended. The expression “expenditure for the maintenance of services” is not sufficiently definite to enable any figures to be given. Number of consumers Year ending 31st March 1939 … … 114 Year ending 31st March 1940 … … 118 Year ending 31st March 1941 … … 131 Year ending 31st March 1942 … … 141 Year ending 31st March 1943 … … 143 206

* The Factories (Second Amendment) Bill The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Labour Member): Sir, I beg to move for leave to introduce a Bill further to amend the Factories Act, 1934 (Second Amendment). Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : The question is :

“That leave be granted to introduce a Bill further to amend the Factories Act, 1934 (Second Amendment).” The motion was adopted.

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Sir, I introduce the Bill.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1944, 3rd April 1944, p. 1870.

* Closing of Arches between Quarters on Irwin Road, New Delhi

771. Mr. Muhammed Azhar Ali: (a) Is the Honourable the Labour Member aware that sometime back some of the passengers (arches) in between the Government quarters situated on the Irwin Road, New Delhi, were closed for vehicular traffic, etc.? (b) Is the Honourable Member aware that some of these have been closed by erecting small pillars of cements and others by putting up a revolving iron bar gate fixed in a ‘V’ type of structures ?

(c) What is the object and utility of putting up these iron bar gates when ‘V’ type of structures can easily block the way for vehicular traffic ?

(d) Is the Honourable Member further aware that children while playing get hurt—sometimes very seriously—by these iron bar gates ?

(e) Does the Honourable Member propose to consider the desirability of getting these iron gates removed immediately and have them utilized in some other way ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: (a) Yes.

(b) Yes.

(c) To stop cycle traffic.

(d) No.

(e) Government will be prepared to consider the suggestion of the Honourable Member.

208 @ Absence of Muslim Officers in Central Stationery Office

773. Mr. Muhammad Nauman : (a) Is the Honourable the Labour Member aware that none of the officers in the Central Stationery Office is a Muslim ?

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1944, 4th April 1944, p. 1914. @Ibid., p. 1915.

(b) Is it also a fact that a new post of Assistant Controller, Stationery, has been recently sanctioned and has not yet been filled up ? If so, does the Honourable Member propose to reserve it for a Muslim ? If not, why not ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes.

(b) The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The answer to the second part is that the post would be filled according to the communal representation rules. 209

* Desirability of Posting a Technical Officer to the Office of Controller of Printing and Stationery

774. Mr. Muhammad Nauman : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please say:

(a) whether it is a fact that the work in the Government of India Presses is of a technical nature;

(b) Whether it is also a fact that none of the officers at the headquarters’ office of the Controller of Printing and Stationery is an officer drawn from the technical side; and (c) if the replies to parts (a) and (b) are in the affirmative, whether he proposes to consider the desirability of posting a technical officer to the Controller’s Office ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes, mostly. (b) Yes.

(c) No, because detailed technical supervision and scrutiny of printing work is not necessary in his office. 210 @ Government Contribution to Indian Labour Federation

776. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: (a) Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state whether it is a fact that his Department makes

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1944, 4th April 1944, p. 1915. @ Ibid., pp. 1915-16.

a monthly contribution of Rs. 13,000 to the Indian Labour Federation through Mr. M. N. Roy. If so, for what purpose ? If the amount of contribution is more or less than this figure, will the Honourable Member please state the correct figure ? (b) Have any accounts been rendered for the money so contributed to the Indian Labour Federation ? If not, why not ? (c) If the reply to first portion of part (b) above be in the affirmative, will the Honourable Member please lay on the table of the House copies of such statements received for the last six months ? If not, why not ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: (a) A monthly grant of Rs. 13,000 is made to the Indian Federation of Labour for doing propaganda to keep up the morale of industrial labour. (b) Yes, Sir.

(c) No. The accounts are subject to the same scrutiny as all public accounts and no useful purpose would be served by placing them on the table.

Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: Is he authorised to distribute that money to other persons for the purpose of propaganda ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It is not given to him; the grant is made to the Indian Federation of Labour. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: That means, the person who is in charge of the Federation. Can he distribute that money to other people asking them to go and do propaganda ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no information as to how the money will be distributed.

Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: Will the Honourable Member enquire into it because accounts have to be made ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The accounts are audited as all other public accounts are.

Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: Does the Honourable Member know how this amount is shown to have been distributed ? Is it shown by the audit?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no information, but the accounts are scrutinised in the same way as all other public accounts.

Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : Have the Federation made any rule and submitted the same to the Government, regulating the manner in which this grant should be spent ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no information on that.

Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: Will the Honourable Member make an enquiry into it ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : If the Honourable Member will care to put a question, I will make enquiries. Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : I do not know how accounts will be audited if there are no rules for distribution. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am sure that the public accounts officer must satisfy himself, that there are some rules according to which the money is spent. Mr. Badri Dutt Pande : Are there any other associations which are getting money like this ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I must have notice of that question.

Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : There ought to be some rules by means of which it can be ensured that Mr. Roy does not spend the whole money on his friends.

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I had no idea that the Honourable Member had any justification to presume that there were no rules.

Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : That is the impression which one gets, because Government showed ignorance.

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Government have not shown ignorance. My answer was that the accounts are subject to the same scrutiny as other public accounts are. Mr. T. T. Krishnamachari : Has the Honourable Member satisfied himself that this is the only organisation that will help the Government to keep up the morale of labour ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no information. I must have notice of that question.

211

* Ejectment Cases in Delhi Courts @ 782. Khan Bahadur Shaikh Fazl-i-Haq Piracha : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state the number of ejectment cases filed in Delhi Court since the extension of Punjab Rent

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1944, 4th April 1944, pp. 1919-20. @ Answer to this question laid on the table, the questioner being absent.