2. कॅबिनेट मिशन आणि अस्पृश्य : डॉ. आंबेडकर

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

5. 6/73 Ground Floor I.

6. 24-25 First Floor

7. No. 19 Birla Flat

8. 53/7 Ground Floor I.

9. 15- A/2-3-4 Ground Floor I

10. Birla Building Ground Floor II.

11. Birla Building Ground Floor I

12. 6/75-76 First Floor VI

13. 642 B.D.

14. 25310 M. C.

15. 15-A/39 Ground Floor II

16. 15-A/39 Ground Floor I

17. 6/75-76 First Floor V

18. Ganesh Bhawan …

19. 6/64 Ground Floor (b) Is it also a fact that most of such houses were successively allotted, but refused by various allottees, mostly because of lack of proper living conditions and privacy ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) A statement showing the position of the requisitioned houses in question is placed on the table of the House.

(b) Some of these houses proved unpopular and were refused when offered and were thus lying vacant for some time as shown in the statement laid on the table of the House. Statement showing the position of the leased houses in question Sr.

No.

Name of the House Date from which lying vacant Remarks 1 15-A/39 F.F. I 26th June 1945 It was offered to officials on 26lh June 1945, 15th August 1945, 12lh November 1945, 21st November 1945 and 31st January 1946 but was refused successively by all.

It has been released from 8th March 1946.

2 15-A/9 G.F. I 14th January 1946 The allotment made to the previous allottee was cancelled from 14th January 1946. It was re-allotted on 28th January 1946 and accepted on 7th February 1946.

3 15-A/9 G.F. II 15th November 1945 The house was re-allotted to officials on 20th Nov. 1945, 21st Dec. 1945, 28th Jan. 1946 and 16th Feb. 1946 but was refused by all in turn. It has been re-allotted from 14th March 1946.

4 6/73 F.F. II September 1945 The house was offered to different officials on 4th Oct. 1945, 26th Oct. 1945 and

Sr.

No.

Name of the House Date from which lying vacant Remarks 4th Dec. 1945 but was refused by all. It was finally accepted on 3rd Jan. 1946.

5 6/73 G. F. I 5th February 1946 The allottee was declared ineligible from getting Government accommodation and he vacated the house on 5th Feb. 1946.

It was re-allotted on 22nd Feb. 1946.

6 24/26 (Should be 22/6)

November 1945 The house was offered to different officials on 19th Oct. 1945, 26th Nov. 1945, 21st Dec. 1945 and 28th Jan. 1946 but was refused by each allottee. It was finally accepted on 16th Feb. 1946 and has been occupied by the allottee.

7 No. 19 Birla Flat January 1946 Reserved for casual visitors. 8 53/75 G.F. I 23rd Dec. 1945 Surrendered by the previous allottee on 23rd Dec. 1945. It was re-allotted on 28th Dec. 1945 and accepted on 3rd Jan. 1946.

9 15-A/2, 3, 4 G.F. I 7th Dec. 1945 It was offered on 30th Jan. 1946 and 16th Feb. 1946 but was refused. It has been re-allotted from 14th March, 1946.

10 Birla Flat G. F.

II (Represents Birla Flat No.

11)

31st January 1946 The house stands allotted to an Officer who is in occupation of flat No. 22 by mutual exchange. He has been asked to shift to his flat.

11 Birla Flat G. F. I (Represents Birla Flat No. 7)

31st January 1946 This flat was occupied by mutual exchange by the allottee of Hutment No. 164. He has been asked to vacate the Hutment and to go to his flat.

12 6/75-76 F. F. VI 20th January 1946 The house was vacated by the previous allottee on 20th January 1946 due to resignation. It has been re-allotted from 4th March 1946.

13 B. D./642 January 1946 Vacated by the previous allottee in Jan. 1946. It has been recommended for release.

14 25310-M.C.

(should be 2531 M. C.)

18th August 1945 This house was offered to officials on 26th June 1945, 15th August 1945, 13lh Sept.

1945, 19th Oct. 1945,26lh Nov. 1945 and 21st Dec. 1945, but was refused by all in turn. It has been released from 15th March, 1946.

15 15-A/39 G. F. II 3rd July 1945 Both these sets proved unpopular and were refused when offered.

16 15-A/39 G.F. I 9th Aug. 1944 These sets were released from 8th March 1946.

17 Ganesh Bhawan (should be Ramesh Bhawan)

28th Feb. 1946 Fell vacant due to the allottee being declared ineligible for Government accommodation. The house has been realloted from 4th March, 1946.

18 6/64 28th Feb. 1946 The house has been allotted elsewhere from 4th March, 1946.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

427

* Requisitioned Houses in Qarol Bagh, Delhi 1259. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state if Government are aware that in most cases where the requisitioned houses in Karol Bagh, Delhi, were accepted by the allottees, they were sublet by the respective allottees, on black-market rents to the general public who were driven to pay high rents on account of grave shortage of living accommodation in Delhi ? (b) Are Government also aware that this practice of subletting is so prevalent that on an enquiry by the Estate Office, three flats out of four in house No. 6 / 73 in Karol Bagh, were found to be sub-let ?

(c) Is it a fact that most of the unoccupied houses in Karol bagh are being utilised by the local staff of the Central Public Works Department for their private ends ? (d) In view of these facts, do Government propose to consider the advisability of terminating the lease of the houses referred to in part (a) of the preceding question to save them from black market transactions and misuse and making them available to the needy general public among whom many are Government employees on the waiting list for Government accommodation ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No. (b) It is a fact that two flats out of the four in house No. 6/73 Karol Bagh were found to have been sub-let, but it does not follow from this one case, that sub-letting is widely prevalent.

(c) No.

(d) Government have already de-requisitioned a few houses in the Karol Bagh area, and have always under their examination the de-requisitioning of houses not required by them or which they are unable to utilise.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 1259.

* Strike in Indian School of Mines 1265. Sri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state whether there has been a strike in the Indian School of Mines ? (b) Has the strike ended ?

(c) Is it a fact that recently a deputation of the students waited upon the Honourable Member ?

(d) Is it a fact that the graduates of the Indian School of Mines are not permitted by the Coal Mines Regulations to hold any responsible position in coal mines ?

(e) Will Government consider the advisability of amending the Coal Mines Regulation so as to make the diploma of the Indian School of Mines equivalent to the Second Class Mine Manager’s Certificate of competency subject to the holder obtaining practical experience in coal mines for a further period of one year ? If not, why not ?

(f) What steps do government propose to take to remedy the grievances of the students ?

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

(b) Yes.

(c) Yes.

(d) Yes. The certificate or diploma holders of the Indian School of Mines must secure a Second Class or First Class Colliery manager’s certificate before they can be appointed to a responsible position in a coal mine.

(e) and (f). The matter is under consideration. Government are considering the extent to which the regulations under the Mines Act can be altered to give some weightage under those Regulations to the Diploma of the School of mines, but they do not consider that it is possible to treat that diploma as a substitute for the Second Class mine manager’s certificate granted under those regulations.

Prof. N. G. Ranga : When Government are responsible for both certificates as well as diploma, what is it that prevents the Government of India to see that diploma holders are given training which will be

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 2981.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

considered equivalent to the training or efficiency which certificate holders are expected to possess ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have discovered in my examination of the subject that there are certain anomalies and I am taking steps to rectify them.

429

* United States Army Chapel, New Delhi 1268. Sri S. T. Adityan : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether it is a fact that the United States Army Chapel, New Delhi, is proposed to be converted for secular purposes ?

(b) What are the names of applicants who have offered to purchase this Chapel ?

(c) Are Government aware that it would the religious susceptibilities of a large section of Christians if a Church is converted for any other use except religious worship in a Christian form ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The matter is under consideration.

(b) The Government have not received any offer for the purchase of this Chapel.

(c) It is understood that the Chapel has not been consecrated and its use for purpose other than religious worship in a Christian form should not therefore wound the religious susceptibilities of a large section of Christians.

430 @ Thorium and Uranium Deposits in India 1276. Diwan Chaman Lall : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state whether there are, and if so, to what extent, Thorium and Uranium deposits anywhere in India ? What steps are being taken to exploit the existing resources ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No deposit of economic value has yet been found.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 27th March 1946, p. 2985. @Ibid., p. 2987.

The mineral monazite (one of the Thorium bearing minerals) does occur along the southern coast line of India notably on the Travancore coast.

431

* Import of Typewriters 1279. Mr. Manu Subedar : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please slate how many typewriting machines have been imported in India since the 1st of April, 1940 ? (b) How many of these have been released for the Civil population and in which Provinces, and by what test ? (c) Is it a fact that there is a great shortage in India of these machines and that business firms are put to very great incovenicnce ?

(d) What steps have Government taken in order to increase the availability of these machines ?

(e) Did this constitute one of the articles, about which the Hydari Mission negotiated ?

(f) What is the general position about the availability of typewriting machines, and what is the forecast of Government during the next twelve months ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) About 76,000 up to December 1945.

(b) From April 1940 to October 1943—information not available. From October 1943 to the end of 1945—about 2950. The test by which releases were made was one of essentiality. These releases were made to commercial and industrial concerns, public utilities, educational institutions, professional people and businessmen and preference was given to war industries or agencies engaged in work connected with the war effort. (c) Yes, there has been a great shortage of typewriters in India. (d) Since the end of the war, typewriters for public use are being imported through commercial chanels as in prewar days. Government have impressed upon the various importing firms the desirability of importing typewriters in as large a number as possible. The firms have been invited to come up for Government assistance, if necessary, after

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 2988.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

ascertaining the supplying capacity of their principals in America. Import licences for large quantities of typewriters have been issued. For the period July to December 1945 alone, licences for import from U.S.A. were issued for 11,717 typewriters. The acute shortage of typewriters in India was also brought to the notice of the American authorities in August last and they were requested to accord high priority to the releases of at least 15,000 typewriters for shipment to India by the end of June 1946. (e) No.

(f) Only 4,400 typewriters (excluding Hermes “Baby” typewriters from Switzerland which are unsuitable for regular office work) were imported into this country during the six months from September 1945 to February 1946 against India’s minimum yearly requirements of 15,500 machines. The present position is, therefore, unsatisfactory but some improvement is expected during the next twelve months.

432

* Contract Works given by Horticultural Division Central P. W. D., New Delhi 1381. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : Will the Honourable the Labour Member kindly place on the table of the House a comparative statement showing the amount of contract works given by (i) tenders and (ii) work orders, separately, to Muslims, Hindus and Scheduled Caste Contractors in the Horticultural Division of the Central P. W. D., New Delhi, during the period from 1st November, 1943, to the 28th February 1946, by the present Superintendent, Horticultural Operations, New Delhi? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The information asked for is not readily available and the time and labour involved in collecting it would be incommensurate with the value of the result.

Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : What are the reasons why the information is not readily available ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It is not available in the form in which my Honourable friend wants it.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 19-16, p. 3133.

Prof. N. G. Ranga : Is any effort being made to give additional opportunities for scheduled caste contractors to have their share ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : They can get their share in accordance with the rules laid down. Prof. N. G. Ranga : There are only very few from the scheduled castes, because they are so poor.

433

* Muslim Horticultural Subordinates in Central P. W. D.

1382. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member kindly state if it is a fact that three B. Sc. Muslims were appointed in the Central P.W.D. as Horticultural Subordinates on the 28th February 1945, 19th March 1945, and 23rd May 1945, but they were not given charge of Sections till the 28th November 1945 ?

(b) On what duties were they put during the intervening period ?

(c) If they were not required for specific work expected of them, why has public money to the amount of Rs. 5,000 been wasted in this way, who is responsible for that and what action do Government propose to take against the officer concerned ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes.

(b) and (c) As the men were fresh from college and had no practical experience, they were given preliminary training as probationers before being placed in formal charge of sections. 434 @ Scales of Pay and Increments to Chowdhries and Assistant Chowdhries in Horticulture Division 1383. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : Will the honourable the Labour Member kindly state the scales of pay and increments allowed to

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3133. @ Ibid., p. 3134.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Chowdhries and Assistant Chowdhries in the Horticulture Division ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The scales of pay with rates of increments are as follows :

Chowdhries—Rs. 20—1—35—2—55 (for old entrants). Rs. 25—1—45 (for new entrants).

Assistant Chowdhries—Rs. 20—1/2—30 (for old and new entrants).

Prof. N. G. Ranga : What is the particular post of a Chowdhri ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : A sort of head mali. Mr. Manu Subedar : Do Government expect a Chowdhri to live on Rs. 20 a month in the present day living conditions ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : They get dearness allowance also.

Mr. Manu Subedar : What do they get ? Rs. 14 or Rs. 8 ? How much ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have not got the information with me.

Mr. Manu Subedar : Will the Government go into the question as to whether industrial class Government employees can really exist on the pay they are getting ? Prof. N. G. Ranga : How much are the malis paid ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I want notice. 435

* Appointments Made by Superintendent Horticultural Operations, Central P. W. D.

384. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : Will the Honourable the Labour Member kindly state, communitywise, viz., Hindus, Muslims, Other Minority Communities and Scheduled Castes, the number of persons appointed by the present Superintendent, Horticultural Operations, Central P. W. D., New Delhi, from the 1st November, 1943, to the 28th February, 1946, as clerks, chowdhries, assistant chowdhries, lorry drivers, fitters, timekeepers and mechanies ?

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central). Vol. IV of 1946,29th March 1946, p. 3135.

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : A statement is laid on the table.

Statement showing the number of persons appointed by the Superintendent, Horticultural Operations, New Delhi from 1st November 1943 to 28th February 1946 Hindus Muslims Schedule Castes Other Minority Community Clerks … 9 2 1 Chowdhries … … 1 … … Assistant Chowdhries … 1 … … … Lorry Drivers … 2 … … … Fitters … 2 1 … … Time-Keepers … 1 1 … … Mechanies … 1 … … … 436

* Muslim Officers in Labour Department 1385. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state if it is a fact that in the Labour Department the Secretary, Joint Secretary and the Deputy Secretary are all Hindus ? Does the Honourable Member propose to appoint a Muslim Officer in charge of the staff in that Department ? If not, why not ?

(b) How many subordinates in the Central Public Works Department were promoted as Sub-Divisional Officers during the last five years ? Are there any Muslims ? If so, how many, and in what proportion ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No. The Secretary is a European and there are two Muslims, one ex-officio Joint Secretary and one Deputy Secretary. These two officers also deal with staff questions. The latter part of the question does not arise. (b) During the last five years 385 subordinates were promoted as S.D.Os…….. out of which 56 were Muslims. This works out to 14.5 per cent.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3135.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Prof. N. G. Ranga : When will the Honourable Member consider the appointment of an Indian Secretary to this Department, in view of the fact that for a number of years past, there has been no Indian Secretary in this Department ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : This is a matter which rests with the Selection Committee.

Prof. N. G. Ranga : Who selects the Secretaries of Departments ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I want notice. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Is there a selection committee which deals with this question ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : There is a committee to which the matter must be referred and the selection is made only from an approved list.

Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : Does it mean that the Honourable Member has no hand in the appointment ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Not until there is a vacancy, I am sure.

437

* Seniority of Certain Officers for Purposes of Allotment of Government Residences 1389. Sri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour member be pleased to state if it is a fact that during the period of emergency certain offices of the Central Government (Secretariat and Attached Offices) were moved from Delhi/Simla to outstations, for want of office accommodation ? (b) Is it a fact that the staff on return with the offices have not been allowed to count their previous service for purposes of entitlement to Government quarters on the ground that they moved to a station other than Delhi/Simla and that in their cases their seniority for entitlement to accommodation was reckoned from the date of subsequent arrival at Delhi ? (c) Is it a fact that the Secretariat Staff working at Calcutta have been allowed to count offices in regard to allotment of residential accommodation been made ?

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th Match 1946, p. 3140.

(d) If so why has this sort of discrimination between the staff of the secretariat and attached Offices in regard to allotment of residential accommodation been made ?

(e) Are Government aware that these people have been penalised for no fault of their own in regard to allotment of quarters, as they had to move under orders of the labour Department in the interest of the State ?

(f) Do Government propose to consider the desirability of restoring the suspended lines in respect of these individuals and allot them accommodation according to their date of joining offices at Delhi / Simla ?

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

(b) The correct position is as follows :

Some of the staff were allowed to count their previous service if the period of absence from Delhi was not more than one year and if they hold liens on Government residences in Delhi. This qualifying period was subsequently reduced to a maximum of six months.

(c) Yes, but only the staff posted in a Secretariat Department at Calcutta or transferred from a Secretariat Department in Delhi/Simla to a Secretariat Department in Calcutta prior to April 1st, 1945.

(d) There has been no discrimination between the staff of the Secretariat and attached offices except in the case of Calcutta where a Branch Secretariat of a Government of India Department was located and transfers between the Headquarters and the Branch Secretariat were frequent. With the issue of the revised rules, this concession has been withdrawn w.e.f. 1st April, 1945 and persons transferred to a Secretariat Department at Calcutta after this date are not allowed to count their previous service for allotment in Delhi.

(e) Government are aware that some officers have been prejudicially affected by the Rules, but this is inevitable in the working of Rules designed formally to secure the efficiency of administration by reducing movements to a minimum. (f) Government do not propose to alter the rules in this respect.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

438

* Supply of Material to Sardar Sobha Singh to build Quarters in New Delhi 1390. Sri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please stale whether it is a fact that Sardar Sobha Singh was given material by Government to build quarters in New Delhi ?

(b) What is the cost of the material supplied, and under what arrangement ?

(c) How many flats has he built ? What is the rent of each flat, how many of these flats are occupied and how many are empty ?

(d) Are Government granting any subsidy ? If so, in what manner and where it is granted to the said Sardar Sobha Singh ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) I presume that the Honourable Member refers to the residential flats on the junction of Cornwallis Road and Humayun Road, New Delhi, built by S. B. Sir Sobha Singh. If so, the reply is in the affirmative. (b) The cost of material supplied is about Rs. l½ lakhs. The contractor is to bear the entire cost of the material supplied to him.

(c) The number of flats so far constructed is 72. There are two types of flats ? A two-bed-room flat and a single-bed-room flat. The rent of the former has been provisionally fixed at Rs. 220 p.m. and of the latter at Rs. 175 p.m. Provisional rent has been fixed as complete information about the cost of construction has not been supplied by the landlord. Out of the 72 flats, Government have taken over 65 flats of which 59 are already occupied and 6 have been allotted to officers on the waiting list. (d) No.

Prof. N. G. Ranga : Why have Government a soft corner for this prince of contractors Sardar Bahadur Sir Sobha Singh ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I do not see any soft corner here.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946. p. 3141.

Prof. N. G. Ranga : Is it not a fact that they have been favouring him in preference to so many other contractors ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Not at all, Sir. 439

* Supply of Essentials and Other Facilities to Workers in Mica Mines at Hazaribagh 1409. Sjt. Seth Damodar Swroop : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state :

(a) if Government are aware that there is no proper arrangement of water for the workers in the Mica mines at Hazaribagh and that no medical aid is available for them in spite of the fact that the area is a well-known epidemic place;

(b) if Government are aware that though the cost of living has increased from six to nine times, no dearness or any such allowance is being paid to the workers and that there is no proper arrangement for sale of rice and other foodgrains at control price at a time when foodgrains have almost disappeared from the market; and (c) whether Government are aware that the Sub-Divisional Officer of the place has ordered the sale of rice at the rate of two seers and four chataks per rupee while the control price is three seers and eight chataks per rupee ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Water supply arrangements are not satisfactory and the medical aid now given is not adequate and there is scope for improvement which the Government of India hope to undertake shortly by means of Legislation.

(b) So far as Government is aware, in some cases wages have been increased to include the dearness allowance while some important concerns are paying dearness allowance in addition to wages.

Proper arrangement for sale of rice and other foodgrains at controlled price is a matter for the Provincial Government, and I would suggest the Honourable Member takes up the matter with the Provincial Government.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3157.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

(c) Here again the matter is for local authorities, and Provincial Government.

440

* Grievances of Workers in Mica Mines at Hazaribagh 1410. Sjt. Seth Damodar Swroop: Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether Government are aware that the money paid by the Joint Mica Mission was never distributed amongst the workers in the Mica Mines at Hazaribagh ? (b) Are Government aware that the factory rules and regulations are mostly disregarded by the Mica Mines Companies and that the highly objectionable and illegal practice of deducting one anna per rupee from the workers’ wages in the name of Dastoori is openly prevalent there ?

(c) Are Government aware that because of the grievances referred to above the Mica Mazdoor Sangh has been forced to give a clear notice of strike ; if so, what steps Government are intending to take to satisfy the workers’ demands and avert the danger of a strike ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) It is not clear what the Honourable Member is referring to. If the reference is to the additional cost allowance on the price which the Joint Mica Mission was paying to the suppliers; I may inform the Honourable Member that the distribution of the allowance was purely a matter between the employers and the workers. (b) The Factories Act and the Payment of Wages Act do not apply to Mica Factories. The prevalence of the illegal practice referred to by the Honourable Member has been brought to Government’s notice. The practice will, I think disappear if the Government’s proposal to bring mica under Central Control materialises and the Mica Enquiry Committee’s recommendations in this respect are implemented.

(c) Yes. The matter is under investigation.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3157.

* Ban on Giving Works to Contractors Related to Employers of Central P.W.D.

1411. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the circumstances which led to the issue of the Labour Department Circular Memo No. M.S. 21, dated the 14th November, 1944, prohibiting the award of works to contractors whose relation are working in officers, etc., under the Central Public Works Department ? (b) Is he aware that this circular has caused great discontent and hardship to many highly reputed and old-established contractors ?

(c) Do similar orders exist in any other Department of Government ? If so, will he place a copy of such orders on the table of the House ?

(d) Was Legal Department of the Government of India consulted before the Labour Department issued these orders ? If so, what was their opinion ?

(e) Cannot the purpose of the orders be served if a relation of a contractor who happens to work in the same Division is transferred to some other Division or other station ? If not, how ?

(f) Will he please consider the advisability of cancelling these orders ? If not, what are the reasons ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a), (b), (c), (e) and (f) The Honourable Member’s attention is invited to the reply given to starred question No. 1143, on 21st March, 1946; (d) No. It is purely an administrative matter. 442 @ Revision of Allotment Rules of Government Accommodation 1412. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state when the present allotment rules regarding

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3158. @ Ibid.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

allotment of residences in New Delhi during the war are to be revised so as to provide for change of residences within the same class or group as was permissible under the former allotment rules, since the war is now over?

(b) Is he aware that some of the allotees who have not been fortunate to get quarters according to their choice are, much to their dissatisfaction, forced to continue in their present quarters ? (c) Is he also aware of the fact that under the existing rules, senior officers moving down from Simla have been at a disadvantage as compared with the junior officers stationed here in securing allotment of quarters ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The question of the desirability of the revision of the present allotment rules will be taken up shortly, when the question of making provision in the rules for change of residences will also be examined. (b) That is a matter of opinion.

(c) Yes, in a few cases senior officers have been at a disadvantage but that is no sufficient reason for disturbing a large number of officers who are already in occupation of these quarters.

443

* Loss of Revenue due to Allotment of Lower Class Accommodation to Higher Paid Servants 1413. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the number of officers residing in lower type of clerks quarters in New Delhi but who are entitled to the allotment of (i) bungalows reserved for officers drawing Rs. 600 per mensem or more, (ii) ‘A’ and (iii) ‘B’ class quarters intended for officers drawing less than Rs. 600 per mensem ? (b) Is he aware of the fact that Government are losing a good amount in the shape of rent by not providing these officers with the class of accommodation to which they are eligible or even lower than that ?

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3159.

(c) What steps does he propose to take to avoid this loss of Government revenue, and are there any proposals to build more quarters of the higher class ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) (i) 98, (ii) 57, (iii) 138.

(b) Government are not losing. Officers occupying lower type of quarters are paying the maximum rent and no quarters are lying vacant.

(c) Part I—Does not arise.

Part II.—The matter is under consideration as part of the general proposal, for the provision of more residential accommodation for officers.

444

* Supply of Unfiltered Water in Quarters in D.I.Z. and Minto Road Area in New Delhi 1415. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether there has been any proposal for the installation of pipes for the supply of unfiltered water in the courtyards of the Orthodox quarters in the D.I.Z. and Minto Road areas in New Delhi ?

(b) Is he aware of the fact that gallons of filtered water are being wasted every day in every quarters in the washing of floor, W.C., watering of flowers, plants or vegetables and in the sprinkling of water on the khus ki tatties during the hot weather? (c) In view of the approaching hot weather will he please consider advisability of installing, the unfiltered water supply in the quarters, in the wider interest of service and economy ? If not, why not ?

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

(b) No. A bend and a gland cock are provided on the hydrants of unfiltered water at convenient places near these quarters at the beginning of every summer season to enable the occupants to draw unfiltered water and I do not think that the consumption of filtered water for these purposes during the remaining part of the year is excessive.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3159.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

(c) No. The Government have already considered this suggestion very carefully in the past and dropped it mainly on account of the excessive expenditure involved. 445

* Non-Promotion of Certain Qualified Executive Engineers, etc., Working as Sub-Divisional Officers and Overseers 1416. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether he is aware that there is a shortage of Engineers for filling up the posts of Executive Engineers and Superintending Engineers in the Central Public Works Department both in the Buildings and Roads and in the Electrical Branches ?

(b) Is he aware that there are many foreign qualified and experienced Engineers working as Sub-Divisional Officers and even overseers who are not being promoted to hold Divisional charge or higher because they are yet junior to unqualified subordinate Sub-Divisional Officers and others ? (c) Is he also aware that Government are sending students for overseas studies to make available foreign qualified hands to fill up higher appointments ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) There are some foreign qualified Engineers in the Central Public Works Department who have not yet been promoted to Divisional or higher charges, because they are either still junior to other qualified Engineers in the Department or are unfit for such promotion.

(c) Yes.

446 @ Non-Promotion of Certain Qualified Executive Engineers, etc., Working as Sub-Divisional Officers and Overseers 1417. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please place on the table of the House a list of foreign

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3160. @ Ibid., p. 3160.

qualified and experienced Sub-Division Officers with full qualifications and total experience and length of service of each and their respective dale of appointment in the Central Public Works Department ?

(b) What is the number of officers appointed directly as Executive Engineers or Superintending Engineers since 1940 ? (c) While making appointments mentioned in part (b) were the cases of each of the individuals mentioned in reply to part (a) considered for such appointments ? If not, what are the reasons ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) A statement is laid on the table.

(b) Superintending Engineers—Nil.

Executive and Electrical Engineers—28, (c) With the exception of those mentioned below, the cases of all the others were duly considered.

(1) Mr. B. S. Krishnaswami He is a temporary Subordinate, while all the others promoted as Executive Engineers are either permanent Subordinates or gazetted temporary engineers.

(2) Messrs. A. K. Sen and Nasir Hussain.

Their cases have not yet come up for consideration as they are not sufficiently high up in the seniority list, all those so far promoted as Electrical Engineers being senior to them.

(d) No such undertaking can be given, as the officers mentioned in the reply to part (a) are either inexperienced or are unfit for Dvisional charge.

List of Foreign Qualified Sub-Divisional Officers in the Central Public Works Department.

Sr.

No. Name Date of appointment in Central P.W.D.

Qualification Previous experience, if any 1 2 3 4 5 I.—ENGINEERING SIDE

1. Mr. N. N. Mehla 17-9-1935 B.A., B.Sc. (Eng.) Sheffield A.M.I.E …

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Sr.

No. Name Date of appointment in Central P.W.D.

Qualification Previous experience, if any 1 2 3 4 5

2. Mr. Gurbachan Singh 5-3-1942 B.Sc. (Civil)

Edinburgh.

15 months’ apprentice- ship in Central Public Works Deptt. 12 years as Superintendent, P.W.D. Kheotri State.

3. Mr. R. R, Tomar 18-5-1942 Diploma Holder of Bettersca Polytechnic.

London.

…

4. Mr. B. S.

Krishna- swami.

13-6-1942 B.Sc. (Eng.)

Rangoon (Burma).

…

5. Mr. S. V.

Subbarao 20-7-1942 B.A., B.Sc. (Hons.)

Civil Engineering, (Edin.).

1 years’ Previous experience.

6. Mr. A. K. Das 1-1-1943 B.Sc., Civil Engineering, (Edin.).

…

7. Mr. M. Rahman 19-4-1943 B.Sc., (Delhi); B.Sc. (Civil), Durham.

Has had some experience with a firm in England.

8. Mr. Abdul Ghafar 11-2-1942 B.Sc, Civil Engineering (Edin.).

…

9. Mr. Mohd. Shaffi 15-3-1944 C. E. (Bristol) …

10. Mr. Narinjan Singh Bisarkhi 4-4-1944 B.Sc. (Civil), Glasgow (Edin.).

15 years’ experience in M. E. S., etc.

11. Mr. S. A. Hakim 30-8-1944 Casual Overseer; C. E. (Shsffield), A. M. I. E.

(Ind.), C. I. S. E.

(London)

15 years’ in Punjab P. W. D. and 8 years’

District Board Service.

II—ELECTRICAL SIDE

12. Mr. B. K.

Mazumdar 4-5-1942 Diploma in Mech. & Elec.

Engineering from Faraday House, Electrical Engineering College, London.

Served for 2 years as Apprentice Engineer to Messrs. Crossley Bros., Ltd., Manchester and Southern Elec.

Buildings, London.

3 years’ term with the Calcutta Supply Corporation.

13. Mr. M. N. Dutt 23-9-1942 B.Sc. (Glasgow) Has had some previous experience. Details not available.

14. Mr. A. K. Sen 13-3-1943 —Do—

15. Mr. Nasir Hussain.

1-5-1945 B.Sc. AMIEE (London).

* Terms of Appointment and Conditions of Service of Ministerial Staff Appointed by Superintendent Viceregal Estates 1419. Sardar Mangal Singh : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please place on the table of the House a sample copy of the terms of appointment and conditions of service offered to the ministerial staff appointed directly by the Superintendent, Viceregal Estates, for specific duty in Simla and or Delhi prior to the 14th July, 1936 ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No particular form was prescribed for sending out offers of appointment to the staff. A copy of one of the appointment letters issued during this period is laid on the table.

Copy of letter No. 1031-M, dated the 25th February 1920 from the Nukutart Secretary to His Excellency the Viceroy, Delhi to the Superintendent, Viceregal Estates.

Your letter No. 279-M, dated the 20th February 1920. I sanction the appointment on probation for 6 months of Lala Dewan Chand as Store Keeper, Viceregal Estates, Simla, on Rs. 50-5-70, with effect from the 1st January 1920 vice S. Amir Chand resigned and also authorise the recovery from him of Rs. 350 of his security deposit at Rs. 10 a month. The agreement bond is returned herewith.

448 @ Revision of Allotment Rules of Government Residences 1420. Sardar Mangal Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether it is a fact that an officer who is transferred from Delhi to Simla or a Secretariat Department at Calcutta after the 1st April 1945, on re-transfer to Delhi, loses the benefit of his previous service, and has to cam his seniority afresh for the purpose of allotment of quarters ?

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3162. @ Ibid. p. 3163.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

(b) What object has been achieved by not giving to such officials, seniority from the original date of qualifying posting visa-vis those who have remained on duly in Delhi, when transfers are ordered in the interest of public service? (c) As the situation with regard to residential accommodation is acute, and the persons affected are those who have put in quite a number of years in Government service and have large families, does the Honourable Member propose to examine the necessity of rescinding this decision ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) The objection aimed at was to give relief to relatively junior people whose stay in Delhi had been continuous and who had suffered more from the rigours of the Delhi housing conditions than offices stationed in Simla or Delhi.

(c) The Rule will be re-examined when the general revision of the Allotment Rules is undertaken.

449

* Permission to Build more Sugar Factories in Certain Canal Irrigated Deccan Area of Bombay Province 1421. Sir. B. S. Hiray : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state :

(a) whether it is a fact that canals in the Deccan area of the Bombay Province were constructed for protective purposes ;

(b) whether it is a fact that the same purpose is served, if not, whether Government propose to extend the areas under Sugar Factories for sugar cane crop ; (c) how many acres of land are irrigated by Canal water in this area, and how many of it are utilised by Sugar Factories for their purposes ; and (d) whether Government propose to allow the construction of more Sugar Factories in this area ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The information has been called for from the Government of Bombay and will be laid on the table of the House in due course.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3163.

* Desirability of Extending Concessions Enjoyed by Staff of Viceregal Estates, Simla, to Staff of Simla Central Division of Central P.W.D.

165. Sardar Mangal Singh : With reference to the reply to part (b) of unstarred question No. 136, answered on the 9th April, 1945, regarding the desirability of extending to the ministerial and inferior staff of the Simla Central Division, the same concessions as are enjoyed by such staff of the Viceregal Estates, Simla, will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether any decision has so far been arrived at ? If so, will he please place a copy of the orders issued on the subject on the table of the House ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : A copy of the orders embodying the final decision arrived at in the case is laid on the table.

Copy of letter No. E-6, dated the 6th December 1945 from the Assistant Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Labour, New Delhi, to the Additional Chief Engineer, Central Public Works Department, Western Zone, New Delhi. Subject.—Grant of compensatory allowances to the staff of the Simla Central Division and of the Rent Control Office of the Central Public Works Department at Simla.

Reference your letter No. 01171-E, dated 7th June, 1944. The Governor-General in Council sanctions the grant of Compensatory allowances to the non-gazetted staff of the Simla Central Division and of the Rent Control Office of the Central Public Works Department at Simla at the rates shown below :— (a) Non-gazetted Ministerial and Technical staff, other than inferior servants—15 per cent of pay subject to a minimum of Rs. 15 (fifteen) and maximum of Rs. 35 (thirty-five) per mensem.

(b) Inferior Staff—Rs. 2 (two) per mensem fixed.

2. These orders will have retrospective effect from the 1st July, 1945.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946. p. 3165.