2. कॅबिनेट मिशन आणि अस्पृश्य : डॉ. आंबेडकर

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

those necessary curtailments we have been able to give Labour certain big advantages. Thus under the Essential Services Maintenance Ordinance workers must stick to their jobs. Simultaneously this ordinance guarantees men in essential industries fair terms of employment. Provision has had to be made to ensure the best use of the technical personnel, but here too statutory provision ensures their conditions of service being fair. So also while strikes without notice have been made illegal, adequate provision has been made for adjudication and power taken to enforce the results of such adjudication. While therefore some restrictions have been imposed on Labour, there has been a development of Government’s powers to ensure fair conditions of employment, the influence of which is likely to survive.

Another matter in which developments resulting from the war are bound to have a lasting effect are the training schemes of the Labour Department and the novel experiment of sending skilled workers to England for further training. The Bevin Boys whose period in England has given Indian Labour an insight into English working class conditions and organisations, have themselves benefited by the training to such an extent that they now on the average earn two and a half times their former salaries. The scheme for training raw hands in India which will train 70,000 skilled workers by June 1943, must have even greater result:, as this large increase in the skilled labour force of the country must be of the greatest value to India’s post-war industrial revival. Coming to our new Labour Welfare organisation, the best indication of the spirit which animates the Department is the choice of a Labour Welfare Adviser made by my colleague, the Honourable Sir Firoz Khan Noon. Mr. R. S. Nimbkar has been a labour leader all his life. He has been in and out of prison constantly in the cause of Labour. His work for the Bombay Girni Kamgar Union, one of India’s biggest unions, has shown his capacity as an organiser of workers, while he has served his home town and India as a member of the Bombay Municipal Corporation and as a delegate to the International Labour Conference where he was one of a team led by Sir Firoz Khan Noon. We are fortunate to have him now as a Government worker and you may be sure we will use his services to the utmost. So successful has been his work so far that we have now appointed seven Assistant Labour Welfare Officers to help Mr. Nimbkar. For the past three or four days these new Labour Welfare Officers have been here in Delhi in the Labour

Department learning something of the work before them. Shortly they (and an eighth officer, who is expected to join soon) will be sent to various areas where it is hoped they will maintain contacts on behalf of the Central Government with Labour. Their duties will be, on the one hand, to keep the Central Government apprised of Labour conditions and feeling and particularly of grievances of Labour in different parts of India and, on the other, to explain to the workers the policy of the Central Government In Labour matters. They can also help to secure the co-operation of the workers in bringing A.R.P. arrangements to the highest pitch of efficiency.

The work of these officers will, it is hoped, bring the Central Government into closer touch with such Labour aspects as concern them (Labour is of course largely a provincial subject) and will help in the development of one of the main planks In Government’s policy....... that is tripartite collaboration between employer, employee and Government. We held our first tripartite conference last August—the Standing Committee of that conference will meet in December and we hope that these meetings will be held frequently in the future and lead to a well developed Labour policy throughout this country.

Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad: With reference to part (c) of the question, may I ask whether the Government are contemplating to introduce any legislation on this point ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, Sir.

21

* Communal Composition of the Engineering Service in the Central Public Works Department

100. Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani : Will the Honourable member for Labour please state :

(a) the number of officers of the Engineering service selected and appointed in the Central Public Works Department from the Public Works Department of every province during the last 3 years with their nationalities and creed ; (b) the criterion, if any, for such selection and appointments ;

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 16th February 1943, p. 279.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

(c) whether the Home Department Resolution of 1934 regarding communal composition of services applies to such appointments ;

(d) if the reply to part (c) be in the negative, the reason and the order of the Government, if any, on the subject; and (e) the total strength of officers in the Engineering service of the Central Public Works Department and the number of Muslim and Sikh officers of such services ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The collection of this information to cover officers of every grade would involve an amount of time and labour which would not, in the opinion of Government, be justifiable in war time. The number of gazetted officers is, however, 83. Their nationalities are : five Europeans, rest Indians. Creeds : Hindus 61, Muslims 10, Sikhs 2, others 10. (b) In the case of three appointments, which have been made on a permanent basis, the selection of the officers was made in consultation with the Federal Public Service Commission and with due regard to the requirements of the Home Department Resolution of 1934 regarding communal representation in the public services. The rest of the appointments are all temporary, the officers concerned having been obtained on loan from Provincial Governments for the execution of certain specific works. In these cases, the officers were selected and placed at the disposal of the Government of India by the Provincial Governments themselves, in accordance with the requirements of the Government of India indicated to them from time to time.

(c) No, so far as the temporary appointments mentioned in the answer to clause (b) are concerned : Yes, so far as the permanent appointments referred to above are concerned.

(d) The Home Department Resolution of 1934 does not apply to persons who are on deputation for a definite period and are expected to revert to their substantive posts thereafter. (e) The total strength of gazetted officers is 174, of whom 18 are Muslims and 8 Sikhs. Figures of non-gazetted staff cannot be readily given.

Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani : May I know the number of officers recruited from Bihar Public Works Department in the Central Public Works Department ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I require notice of that.

* Monopoly of Export of Mica to the Joint Mica Mission and Metal Reserve Company of the United States of America

104. Babu Baijnath Bajoria : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state whether it is a fact that export of Mica is allowed only when effected by the Joint Mica Mission and Metal Reserve Company of the United Slates of America and none else is allowed to export Mica to any country outside India ?

(b) If the answer to part (a) be in the affirmative, for what reasons and on what conditions has such a monopoly of export of Mica been granted to the above mentioned foreign interest ?

(c) Is the Honourable Member aware that such restrictions of export have resulted in these concerns securing Mica in India at much lower rates and making enormous profits for themselves by selling at much higher rates in America and other allied countries ?

(d) Are these concerns Government concerns or private companies ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No. (b) Does not arise.

(c) The prices at which the Joint Mica Mission secures mica have been fixed with the prior approval of the Government of India. The prices are in the opinion of the Government of India fair and reasonable. The prices offered by the Mission are almost invariably higher than or equal to the standard prices ruling before the Mission began to operate. Furthermore the Mission is prepared to buy all mica of merchantable quality which is offered to it. This covers practically the whole range of useful mica and may include mica which would previously not have found a market at all. The Metals Reserve

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 16th February 1943, pp. 281-82.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Company is not now buying mica in India. It bought certain quantities of mica in 1940-42 under contracts with the Government of India and the large increase in production in Indian mica in 1941 was largely the result of these purchases. The prices which it paid were fair and reasonable. Neither the Joint Mica Mission nor the Metals Reserve Company are profit-making concerns.

(d) The Joint Mica Mission is a Government concern. It consists of three British and three American members appointed by the Government of Great Britain and of the United States of America. One of the British members is Chairman. The Mission buys mica for the Ministry of Supply in the case of the United Kingdom and for the Metals Reseve Company of the United States of America in the case of the United States of America. The Metals Reserve Company is a corporation created by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation of the United States of America under section 5 (d) of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation Act and is a duly organised agency of the Government of the United States of America. Babu Baijnath Bajoria : With regard to para. (a) of the question, the Honourable Member has said “No”. Does it mean that other supply firms are allowed to export mica from India ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : My Honourable friend will find answer to that in the next question. Babu Baijnath Bajoria : But you have already said “No” to part (a) of my question.

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes.

Babu Baijnath Bajoria : That means that other firms will be allowed to export mica from India.

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : There is no prohibition ; there are certain conditions prescribed. Babu Baijnath Bajoria : As regards (c), is the Honourable Member aware that the Joint Mica Mission have raised the standard of quality and reduced the rate thereby ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No. The answer to that also will be found in the next question.

* Plan for Providing Against Mass— Unemployment of Indian Labour @ 103. Mr. Govind V. Deshmukh : Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state if he has planned any scheme to provide against mass unemployment of Indian Labour so that it may enjoy freedom from want of necessaries of life ? If so, what ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No formal scheme to provide against mass unemployment has been planned. In War time the scope for employment has increased enormously. As regards post-war conditions, the Reconstruction Committee appointed in the Commerce Department will devote attention to them.

24

† Monopoly of Export of Mica to the Joint Mica Mission and Metal Reserve Company of the United States of America

105. Babu Baijnath Bajoria : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state if it is a fact that when the Joint Mica Mission assumed control of export of Mica from this country, they gave an undertaking to the Government of India that they would purchase the entire production of Indian Mica ? (b) If the answer to the part (a) be in the affirmative, what steps are Government taking for the implementing of this undertaking ?

(c) Is the Honourable Member aware that the Joint Mica Mission is purchasing only scheduled qualities of Mica and refuses to purchase other qualities, e.g. lower grade splittings and Block Mica, and many a time refuses to purchase even certain scheduled qualities, which has resulted in large stocks of these qualities remaining unsold in the hands of Indian merchants ?

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 16th February 1943, p. 281. @ Answer to this question laid on the table, the questioner being absent.

† Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 16th February 1943, pp. 282-83.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

(d) What steps are Government taking so that the industry may be able to dispose of its stocks of qualities not purchased by the Joint Mica Mission ?

(e) Are Government prepared to permit the export of Mica by private firms to the United States of America and other Allied countries ? If not, why not ?

(f) Are Government aware that since the Joint Mica Mission is controlling the purchase and export of Mica, the production of loose Mica splittings has considerably decreased and several thousands of workers have been thrown out of employment due to the closing of numerous factories and home splitting centres ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The Joint Mica Mission has not assumed control of export of mica from this country. It has, however, undertaken to purchase all mica offered to it which is of merchantable quality and which is trimmed and graded to the usual recognised trade standards. (b) Government have no reason to suppose that the Mission is not implementing the undertaking.

(c) The Mission is only purchasing scheduled qualities of mica ; no other qualities are merchantable among the United Nations. Such qualities can however be exported to neutral countries provided they do not conflict with any general orders issued by Government. The Mission never refuses to purchase schdeuled qualities of mica provided they arc up to the Mission’s standards. The Government of India are not aware that there arc any large stocks of scheduled qualities of mica remaining unsold. (d) Qualities of mica not purchased by the Joint Mica Mission are not merchantable in the United Nations. Government are accordingly not taking steps to assist the industry to dispose of such stocks. In the unlikely event of such stocks being merchantable in neutral countries, Government have no objection to the issue of licences for the export of such stocks provided they do not conflict with any general orders issued by Government. (e) Export of mica by private firms is not prohibited. The United Nations will however not import mica by private firms but will only import mica purchased by the Joint Mica Mission. The United Nations require all merchantable mica which the mica industry in India can

produce. The sale of mica to the United Nations has been canalised through the Joint Mica Mission because the United Nations including the Government of India consider that a single purchasing agency buying on the spot provides the quickest and easiest means of providing mica in the very large quantities now required by the United Nations.

(f) The United Nations already have considerable stocks of mica splittings and their principal requirements are now of block mica. Nevertheless the Mission continues to buy all mica which comes split from the mines. They will not however buy mica which is split from old dumps and such mica is no longer merchantable among the United Nations. Such mica can however be sold in neutral countries provided such sale does not conflict with any general orders issued by Government. Government are not aware that any factories have been closed, although possibly a number of home splitting centres may have been closed.

Babu Baijnath Bajoria : As regards part (a), again I repeat the question that there is a demand for Mica of other varieties in America and that is not being allowed to be exported. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I am not aware of that.

Babu Baijnath Bajoria : Will you make inquiries ? If there is a demand in the U.S.A. of the qualities which this Mission does not buy then private firms should be allowed to export those qualities to America.

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I will make inquiries.

25

* Fixation of Prices of Grades of Mica by the Joint Mica Mission

106. Babu Baijnath Bajoria : (a) Is the Honourable the Labour Member aware that the Joint Mica Mission fixes the prices of the various grades of Mica without any consultation with the representatives of the industry ?

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 16th February 1943, p. 283.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

(b) Is the Honourable Member aware that the Joint Mica Mission raised the standards considerably, compared to those of the Metal Reserve Company who bought through the Director, Geological Survey of India ?

(c) Arc Government aware that the Joint Mica Mission has reduced its purchasing prices by 10 per cent to 30 per cent from the ruling prices in the market and the factories are compelled to sell their products at their rates for want of any other outlet ? (d) Is it a fact that the Government of India accepted the reduction in prices as mentioned in part (c) above ? (c) Arc Government prepared to appoint an advisory committee consisting of representatives of mine-owners and factory-owners to advise the Joint Mica Mission on the question of fixation of prices of different qualities ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Before fixing the prices of various grades of mica, the Joint Mica Mission have invariably consulted the mica industry, including representatives of individual firms both in Bihar and Madras.

(b) The Joint Mica Mission has not raised the standards considerably. It has however raised the standards slightly in certain cases although no change has been made in splittings and films. Wherever the standard has been raised the price has been raised in proportion. Taking pre-Mission standard and price as 100, the Mission standard where it has been raised is 105 and the Mission price 110. The range of standards required by the Metals Reserve Company when buying through the Director of the Geological Survey of India was small compared with the very wide range of scheduled standards being dealt with by the Mission.

(c) The Joint Mica Mission has not reduced its purchasing prices by 10 per cent to 30 per cent.

(d) Does not arise.

(e) No. The prices offered by the Mission were fixed after consultation with the representatives of the mica industry and with the approval of the Government of India. They are in the opinion of the Government of India fair prices and the Government of India see no justification for the appointment of an Advisory Committee.

Babu Baijnath Bajoria : What objection can the Government have to appoint an advisory committee consisting of representatives of mincowners and factories ? That will strengthen their hands and that of the Mica Mission for purchasing the requirements of Mica.

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The answer as stated in part (e) is that the Mica Mission does fix the price after consultation with the representatives of the Mica industry. Babu Baijnath Bajoria : I do not think that is correct. 26

* Irregularities in Payment of Wages to Railway Staff

109. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state when the Payment of Wages Act, IV of 1936, was made applicable to the Railways in India, (b) Is it a fact that several irregularities in the payment to staff have been noticed by the Labour Inspectors ? (c) Is it a fact that the Conciliation Officer (Railways) and the Supervisor of Railway Labour, who is the Inspector under the Act, generally tries to report these irregularities to the administrations concerned for relief, if any could be given ? (d) Is it not a fact that in several cases of late payments, etc., relief can be given lo the affected employees when once the provisions of the Payment of Wages Act have been violated ? Arc prosecutions launched in such cases to act as a deterrent ? If not, why not ?

(e) Have any prosecutions been launched against the Railway Paymasters or the administration ? If so, does the Honourable Member propose to lay a statement of such cases on the table of the House ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) 28th March, 1937.

(b) Yes.

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

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 16th February 1943, p. 285.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

(d) Relief can be given under section 15(3) of the Act. But no prosecutions are launched as it has always been possible to remove defects so far discovered by administrative action. (e) No prosecutions have been launched.

Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : Why are the payments made late ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : In a huge administration such delays are bound to occur. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : What does the administration do in the case of late payments ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : They make the payments.

Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : Only make the payments, or do they do anything further ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : What does the Honourable Member expect the administration to do ? Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: To avoid these occurrences, what does the Government do ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no doubt that they must be trying to avoid these delays. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : But what do they do ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I do not know. If the Honourable Member wants an answer, he may put down a specific question.

Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: Will the Honourable Member direct the administration to see that such things do not recur and that warnings be issued.

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, certainly. 27

* High Rates for Contracts for Construction of Aerodromes at Gaya Nawadih @ 143. Mr. K. C. Neogy : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether it is a fact that contracts for the

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I or 1943, 19th February 1943, pp. 417-18.

@ Answer to this question laid on the table, the questioner being absent.

construction of certain aerodromes were sanctioned by the Chief Engineer, Central Public Works Department, originally at very high rates against which the Provincial Public Works Department was compelled to lodge protests ?

(b) Is it a fact that as a result of such protests a committee was appointed to examine these rates, and the committee reduced the rates to about one third of what were agreed upon by the Chief Engineer ?

(c) Is it a fact that the contractors also agreed lo reduce the rates correspondingly proving thereby that the rates originally awarded were abnormally high ?

(d) If the answer to (c) above be in the affirmative, what action do Government propose to take against the Chief Engineer who was responsible for sanctioning the original rates ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Rates for the construction of the aerodromes in question were accepted by Chief Engineer on proposals put forward by the Executive Engineer through the Superintending Engineer. The rales were high but reliable contractors were not obtainable for work of the dimensions required at lower rales at the lime the work was started. A report was received through the Divisional Commissioner complaining that these rates were unduly high.

(b) and (c) Almost a month before the receipt of any protests from the local officers the Chief Engineer had instructed the Superintending Engineer to make an enquiry and subsequently deputed his Personal Assistant and Financial Adviser to make a further enquiry. By that time conditions had become easier and it was possible to enforce reductions in the rates previously accepted. As a result some rates were considerably reduced, but no rate was reduced to one-third of the previous rates. The reductions accepted by the contractors were nil in respect of certain works, 15 per cent in respect of main runway, 50 per cent in respect of ordinary buildings, and between 30 per cent and 60 per cent in the case of special buildings. The contractor has however, refused to accept the reduced rates proposed in the case of domestic buildings which have therefore been taken away from him and given to another contractor at reduced rates. (d) There is no case for taking any action against the Chief Engineer.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

28

* High Rates for Works of Landing Grounds in New Delhi Cantonment @ 144. Mr. K. C. Neogy : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether it is a fact that the rates for works of Landing Grounds in the new Cantonment, New Delhi, were sanctioned and awarded at high levels originally, but later on they had to be reduced, and the contractors are now doing the works at these reduced rates ?

(b) If the answer to (a) above be in the affirmative, why were the higher rates sanctioned in the beginning, and under whose authority ?

(c) What action do Government propose to lake against the officers who are responsible for this state of affairs ? (d) What precautions have been, or are going to be, taken by the Government of India to prevent a recurrence of such instances to ensure rigid economy in the execution of all such works ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b). Three items of works, viz. (1) Landing Ground, (2) Domestic Buildings and (3) Technical Buildings were carried out in connection with the construction of the New Cantonment, New Delhi, Landing Ground. As regards (1) and (2) the answer is in the negative. As regards (3) some reduction in rates was effected owing to change of specification.

(c) and (d). Do not arise.

29

† Irregularities in Connection with Application of Chapter VI-A of the Indian Railways Act

146. Mr. N. M. Joshi (on behalf of Mr. Lalchand Navalrai) : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state when the Indian Railways (Amendment) Act XIV of 1930 came into force ?

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 19th February 1943, p. 118. @ Answer to this question laid on the table, the questioner being absent.

† Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 19th February 1943, pp. 420-21.

(b) Is it a fact that in the annual reports of the Conciliation Officer (Railways) and the Supervisor of Railway Labour, who is an Inspector under the Act, it has been noted that the same irregularities have continued to be noticed on the Railways in connection with the application of Chapter VI-A of the Indian Railways Act ?

(c) If the reply to part (b) above be in the affirmative, has the Conciliation Officer (Railways) and the Supervisor of Railway Labour at any time invoked the aid of penalty provisions of the Indian Railways (Amendment) Act, 1930, to stop these irregularities ? If so, will the Honourable Member please lay a statement on the table of the House giving instances ? (d) If the reply to first portion of part (c) above be in the negative, will the Honourable Member please give reaons for not enforcing the penalty clauses of the law ?

(e) Is it proposed to do so now ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Section 1 of the Indian Railways (Amendment) Act of 1930 came into force on the 26lh March, 1930. Section 2 came into force on different Railways on the dates given below :

North Western and East Indian Railways—1st April, 1931. Great Indian Peninsula and Eastern Bengal (now Bengal and Assam) Railways—1st April, 1932.

Bombay, Baroda and Central India and Madras and Southern Maharatta Railways—1st November, 1935.

Bengal and North Western (now Oudh and Tirhut) Railways— 1st October, 1937.

South Indian and Rohikund and Kumaon (now part of Oudh and Tirhut) Railways—1st April, 1940.

Bengal, Nagpur and Assam Bengal (now part of Bengal and Assam) Railways—1st January, 1941.

(b) Yes.

(c) No.

(d) and (c). It has not been necessary to invoke the aid of penalty provisions of the law as it has always been possible to rectify irregularities by administrative action.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

30

* Field of Activities of the Conciliation Officer (Railways)

147. Mr. N. M. Joshi (on behalf of Mr. Lalchand Navalrai): (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state whether it is a fact that on the creation of his post the Conciliation Officer (Railways) was posted to Calcutta, to carry on his conciliation activities amongst the group of railways with headquarters at Calcutta ?

(b) Is it a fact that the office of the Conciliation Officer (Railways) and the Supervisor of Railway Labour has now been transferred to Lahore ? Will the field of his conciliation activities be confined to the group of railways with headquarters at Calcutta, or to the North Western Railway at Lahore or to railways with headquarters at both these places, Lahore and Calcutta ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes.

(b) The headquarters of the Conciliation Officer (Railways) and the Supervisor of Railway Labour was transferred to Lahore purely as a temporary measure as a new incumbent to the post was being appointed and the Deputy Supervisor of Railway Labour whose headquarters are at Lahore was holding additional charge of the post of Conciliation Officer (Railways) and the Supervisor of Railway Labour. The headquarters have now been transferred back to Calcutta after the appointment of a new incumbent to the post.

Mr. N. M. Joshi : May I ask whether the Government will consider the question of extending the function of the Conciliation Officer to Railways other than those headquarters are in Calcutta ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, I will consider that.

Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): I have allowed these two questions to be put by Mr. N. M. Joshi, though the Honourable Member, Mr. Lalchand Navalrai, who gave notice of these questions had not authorised Mr. Joshi. It is ordinarily the practice that no other Member can put a question unless the Honourable Member in whose name a question stands has authorised him to do so. But in the special circumstances of this case, I have allowed Mr. Joshi to put the questions.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. 1 of 1943, 19th February 1943, p. 421.

* Help to Dependents of Enemy Air Raid Victims

183. Mr. H. A. Sathar H. Essak Sait : Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state :

(a) the arrangements that have been made to succour the heirs and dependents of those who are killed or injured as a result of enemy bombing in India ;

(b) whether such arrangements for their succour will come into play immediately after the raids or the dependents are expected to go through the formalities of putting up applications and undergoing enquiries, etc., before help is rendered to them; and (c) the details of the help that was rendered to the citizens, especially the poorer section of Calcutta and other places in India, which were bombed by the enemy for: (i) the disposal of their dead, (ii) the treatment of the injured, (iii) the loss of their means of livelihood, and (iv) their rehabilitation generally ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b) Provision for relief of persons injured by enemy bombing and of the dependents of those killed by such action has been made in the War Injuries Scheme prepared by Government under the War Injuries Ordinance.

Applications for relief have naturally to be made, but the procedure has been made as expeditious as possible. When the person concerned is incapable of making an application, provision has also been made to entertain applications on his behalf. Provision has also been made for advances by employers of amounts upto Rs. 50 in each case against awards that may be made in respect of the injury or death.

A copy of the pamphlet containing the War Injuries Ordinance Scheme and Regulations has been placed in the Library of the House.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 24th February 1943, p. 556.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

(c) (i) and (ii) These are matters of Provincial responsibility and the Government of India are not in possession of details as to how they worked. Full advice has been given by the Government of India as to the formation of organisations for corpse disposal and the treatment of the injured and schemes on the lines recommended have in fact been put into operation. The Government of India have been informed by the Provincial Governments that the schemes worked satisfactorily. No complaints or criticisms as to their efficient working have come to the notice of the Government of India.

(iii) and (iv) The Government of India have no detailed information on these points. The scale of raiding has hitherto been light and as far as the information in the possession of the Government of India would indicate, no special problems in this connection have arisen in the case of any bombed area. It is understood that relief under the War Injuries Scheme has been granted in many cases and some cases are under investigation. Mr. H. A. Sathar H. Essak Sait : With regard to part (b) has my Honourable friend satisfied himself that there was really no complaint of delays ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am not aware of any.

32

* Summaries of the Proceedings of the Fourth Labour Conference and of Meetings of the Standing Labour Committee The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Labour Member) : Sir, I lay on the table a copy@ each of the following : (1) Summary of Proceedings of the Fourth Labour Conference (First Tripartite Conference) held on 7th August, 1942. (2) Summary of Proceedings of the First meeting of the Standing Labour Committee held on 30th November and 1st December, 1942.

(3) Summary of Proceedings of the Second meeting of the Standing Labour Committee held on 25th January, 1943.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 25th February 1943, p. 603. @ Not included in these Debates, but a copy of each has been placed in the Library of the House.— Ed. of D.

* Desirability of Applying the Control of Rent Act to the Notified Area, Shahdara and Delhi

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

(a) if it is a fact that most of the workers employed in the industrial, commercial and Government offices at Delhi reside within the Notified Area, Shahdara and Delhi.

(b) if it is a fact that the said workers are mostly low paid staff and are in greater number than the residents of the Notified Area, Civil Station, Delhi, and the newly expanded areas of Daryaganj and Karol Bagh, Delhi, where the Control of Rent Act applies;

(c) the reasons for not applying the Control of Rent Act to the Notified Area, Shahdara, Delhi ; and (d) if Government propose to apply the Control of Rent Act to the residential buildings within the Notified Area, Shahdara and Delhi, if not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b) I am prepared to take these facts from the Honourable Member. (c) and (d) It is not administratively practicable to apply the New Delhi House Rent Control Order, 1939, to these areas, but the Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act has been extended to them.

Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: What are the reasons for not applying the New Delhi House Rent Control Order, 1939 ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Because one is more expeditious.

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 2nd March 1943, p. 653.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

34

* House Rent Control Cases in New Delhi

†228. Khan Bahadur Shaikh Fazl-i-Haq Piracha : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state : (a) the number of cases decided by the Rent Controller, New Delhi, regarding the extension of tendency of houses in New Delhi in 1942;

(b) whether there were cases in which the landlords applied that they required the houses for their own use ; (c) if the answer to (b) be in the affirmative, how many applications from the landlords were rejected and how many accepted ; and (d) if it is a fact that the rejection of such applications operated harshly against the landlords and is against the intention of the Rent Control Order; if so, whether the Honourable Member for Labour proposes to enquire into such cases and to revise the decisions of the Rent Controller, where necessary ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The information asked for is not readily available and its collection would involve an amount of time and labour that would not be justifiable in war time.

35 @ House Rent-Control Cases in New Delhi

†229. Khan Bahadur Shaikh Fazl-i-Haq Piracha : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state : (a) the number of cases for the fixation of rent for houses in New Delhi which were decided by the Rent Controller, New Delhi, in 1942 ;

(b) in how many cases were the landlords asked to submit their objections;

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 2nd March 1943, pp. 660-61. @ Ibid., p. 661.

† Answer to this question laid on the table, the questioner being absent.

(c) why the landlords were not summoned in other cases ; and (d) whether the Honourable Member proposes to instruct the Rent Controller to summon landlords in cases referred to in (c) ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) 534.

(b) to (c) The information asked for is not readily available and its collection would take an amount of time and labour that would not be justifiable in war time.

(d) The Controller summons the landlords in all cases where it is necessary to do so for the purpose of determining properly the matters on which he has to adjudicate, and no special instructions are necessary.

36

* House Rent-Control Cases in New Delhi

†230. Khan Bahadur Shaikh Fazl-i-Haq Piracha : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state :

(a) whether the cases for the extension of tenancy were actually heard during 1942 in New Delhi, by Mr. Jones, late Rent Controller, but decisions were given by his successor without hearing the parties concerned ; if so, what is the number of such cases ; and (b) whether he proposes to appoint an officer to re-examine such cases ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No ; the latter part of the question does not arise.

(b) Does not arise.

37 @ Desirability of Extension of the Punjab Rent Restrictions Act to Entire Delhi Province

† 231. Khan Bahadur Shaikh Fazl-i-Haq Piracha: Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state : (a) whether the Punjab Rent Restrictions Act has been applied to some parts of the Delhi Province ;

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 2nd March 1943, p. 661. @ lbid., p. 661.

† Answer to this question laid on the table, the questioner being absent.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

(b) if it is a fact that the areas covered by the Rent Control Order have been excluded from the operation of that Act; and (c) whether the Honourable Member proposes to withdraw the Rent Control Order and advise Government to extend the application of the said Act lo those areas also ; if not, why not?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: (a) and (b) Yes. (c) No. The Rent Control Order provides a speedy method of determining the fair rent of a house not provided for by the Punjab Act and I do not see any reason for withdrawing the Order.

* House Rent Control in Simla

† 232. Khan Bahadur Shaikh Fazl-i-Haq Piracha : (a) Is the Honourable the Labour Member aware that in 1940 the rents of private properties in Simla were reduced considerably owing to the retention of the civil Departments of the Government of India in Delhi and that a large number of houses remained vacant or were leased on a nominal rent by the landlords concerned during the course of that year ? If so, do Government propose not to determine the rents for that year as basic rents under the Rent Control Order ?

(b) Is the Honourable Member aware that the cost of repairs has gone up very high and that the Punjab Government have imposed a new tax of 7 ½ per cent on the property under a new Act ?

(c) Are Government aware that the landlords in Simla are suffering financially from the restrictions imposed by the Government concerned in one way of the other ? (d) Docs the Honourable Member propose to amend the House Control Order for Simla, so as to determine the rents for 1939 as basic rents plus 25 per cent on account of the increased cost of repairs or alternatively lo withdraw the Rent Control Order and to apply the Punjab Rent Restrictions Act instead ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Rents at the beginning of 1940 were lower than in 1939 when landlords had raised rents to an unreasonably high figure. Houses were not, however, rented at nominal rents in 1940, and the Government of India considered that

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 2nd March 1943, p. 662.

† Answer to this question laid on the table, the questioner being absent.

the rents of 1940 were fair rents to take as basic rents under the Rent Control Order.

(b) Yes.

(c) Landlords are not suffering financially from the restrictions imposed upon them by Government but they are prevented from making more than reasonable profit on their properties. (d) No ; the Rent Control Order is an emergency measure designed to expedite decision regarding rents of houses. If Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act is enforced instead, the tenants will have to seek redress in the Civil Courts which will not only be expensive but will take a long time to arrive at a decision. 38

* Allotment of Central Government Employees’

Quarters to Staff of Local Schools, etc.

@ 234. Mr. Muhammad Azhar Ali : (a) Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state if he is aware of the fact that the Public Works Department quarters specially built for the Central Government employees are allotted to the staff of the local schools and courts in preference to the Central Government servants of certain Departments ?

(b) Is he aware that the purely temporary staff of the so-called “entitled offices” is given preference over the permanent staff of other offices who are drawing higher salaries notwithstanding the loss of revenue to Government ?

(c) Is it a fact that sister offices of the same Department are treated differently ?

(d) Is it a fact that the Railway clearing Accounts Office was treated as non-entitled but that decision has since been changed ? (c) Does the Honourable Member propose to review the position and take steps to treat all the Central Government offices alike ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) These quarters are meant for employees of the Central Government and of the Local

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 2nd March 1943, p. 663. @ Answer to this question laid on the table, the questioner having exhausted his quota.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Administration of Delhi posted in New Delhi and Delhi and may be allotted to such employees working in Schools and Courts. (b) I am prepared to accept that the operation of the rules may have led to the result suggested by the Honourable Member. (c) A more liberal interpretation of the rules regarding offices entitled to this accommodation has recently been adopted and it is possible that as a result there may be some anomalies. (d) Yes.

(e) I am prepared to examine the case of any particular office brought to my notice, but do not propose to undertake a general review.

39

* Private Houses leased by Government in Delhi

252. Sardar Sant Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member kindly state the number of private houses leased by Government in the different areas in Delhi, e.g., New Delhi, Notified area, Karol Bagh, Darya Gunj, etc. separately ? (b) When were the first and the last houses leased in each area ?

(c) Is it a fact that all houses were leased before the winter season began ? If not, how many were leased after the beginning of the winter season ?

(d) On what basis is the rent paid by Government to the owners of these buildings, how were the houses classified for purposes of allotment and how were they allotted according to that classification ?

(e) In how many cases were persons eligible for a lower type allotted a higher type, and why ?

(f) How is the rent charged for these houses from the allottees ? (g) Is it a fact that it cannot be more than 10 per cent of their pay ?

(h) When were the first and the last houses occupied in each area, separately, during 1942-43?

(i) Is it a fact that several houses are still vacant?

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 19-43, 8th March 1943, pp. 811-12.

(j) How much loss have Government incurred by the difference in payments to owners as a whole and the actual rents realized from the tenants ?

(k) How much loss have Government incurred by the houses remaining vacant for months ?

(l) Were Government not aware of the probable demands ? (m) Is it a fact that in certain cases rents paid to owners were more than the rents realized by them immediately prior to their leasing to Government ? If so, why, and who is responsible for this loss and what action do Government propose to take against the officers responsible for this ?

(n) What do Government propose to do for the next year ? (o) Will they still require more houses on lease or will they release some out of those already leased ?

(p) Are Government prepared to have an Enquiry Committee to look into the leasing of houses in the past to allay any suspicion that Government were put to unnecessary loss due to the negligence of officers and want of proper estimate of news ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b) A statement containing the information asked for is laid on the table of the House.

(c) No. Forty six houses were leased after the commencement of the winter season.

(d) Government have paid the “fair rent” as determined under the provisions of the New Delhi Rent Control Order, 1939. Flats in houses suitable for allotment to officers were classified as those suitable for officers with wives and families, and those suitable for officers with wives only and were allotted accordingly in accordance with the principle that the houses carrying higher rental were allotted to higher paid officers. Houses suitable for clerks were not classified and were allotted in accordance with the abovementioned principle.

(e) None. The houses were not divided into types but the principle “higher rented accommodation for higher paid officer” was always followed in allotting available houses. (f) Rent is calculated in accordance with the rules and is recovered from the allottees at ten per cent of the emoluments or the full rent whichever is less.