On 18th December, 1946, assembly discussed on “Programme of Business” to finish the rules of working of the Assembly, amid Christmas holidays, some public programmes in January, Budget sessions of Provincial and Central Assemblies.
Discussion on 18th December, 1946
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, by referring a note from Mohan Lal Saksena, informed the House that draft of rules had been prepared, but some work was remained which would be completed by Friday. Rules Committee would consider the final draft before placing that in the House and copies of the same would be served to all members on Saturday, so that it can be discussed on 23.12.1946 i.e. Monday. On 24th and 25th Assembly would have Christmas holidays, so on 26th Assembly could continue sitting and can discuss the rules and finish them by 27th of that month and Assembly should not end its first session without finalizing the rules. He was of the thought that the Assembly should work in Christmas week also by taking only two day holiday on 24th and 25th of December.
M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar of Madras said to have holiday of whole week and resume the work in new year, as he wanted to go back. Pandit Hirday Nath Kunzru of United Provinces expected that session would end before Christmas and on that basis he was having other engagements which would keep him busy during the Christmas week, hence it would not be possible to attend the Assembly after 23rd. Dhirendra Nath Datta of Bengal pointed out that for putting amendments a 4 to 5 days of time was necessary, hence it was desirable that Assembly should meet on 2nd of January, 1947. J. J. M. Nichols-Roy of Assam asked for whole week holidays of Christmas as Christmas holidays are important for Christians, he was also having some engagements for the same time.
D. P. Khaitan of Bengal was surprised to see that members were not happy with the programme given by the Chairman. Work before the Assembly should be above all and Assembly must work with a speed which would be possible. Mohan Lal Saksena of United Provinces suggested to take an off on the next day i.e. on 19th and might meet in afternoon of 20th, so that report of the committee should be completed and Assembly could consider the rules on Saturday and they might finish those rules by Monday. R. K. Sidhwa of C. P. and Berar pointed out that the rules should have to be discussed in Party meeting, which might take 2 – 3 days. Hence Assembly should restart its session on 2nd or 3rd January after presenting the report of Committee on 21st or 23rd of December.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad then informed that in first week of January 1947, many public programmes were already announced like Science Congress, in which eminent scientists from all over the world were coming and Jawaharlal Nehru was also having an important function in that Science Congress. Hence he was anxious to complete the work before the New Year without disturbing those public programmes. Also in January some Provincial Assemblies would meet. Purushattam Das Tandon of United Provinces informed that the business of the Provincial Assemblies could be adjusted suitably.
Sardar Vallabhbhai J. Patel of Bombay said that it would not be difficult to suit the convenience of all 300 members. There would be budget sessions of all the Provinces and the Central Assembly, hence precedence should be given to work of the Constituent Assembly. Passing of Rules was of importance for working of the Assembly. The preliminary session should not be finished during December or even in first week of January. Hence to meet again on 3rd or 4th January is not practicable. Hence Assembly should meet on 26th and 27th to finish the Rules so that it would dispose its work. K. Santhanam of Madras suggested to start discussion on portion of the rules which had completed, and go on passing them, so that they would be simultaneously completed. Chairman said to take rules as a whole. Then Chairman said that after considering all these points the decision of the programme of business would be taken on tomorrow, and assembly resumed its discussion on the Resolution of aims and goals.
Discussion on 19th December, 1946
As working programme of the Assembly was necessary to be finalized amid Christmas, the discussion continued on Dt. 19.12.1946. Dr. Rajendra Prasad pointed out that there were four main tasks to be completed in the first session of the Assembly. The Resolution moved by Nehru, on which discussion were not completed even on 5th day of the Assembly. Rule of working of the Assembly should be passed so that the House might start its working in an ordered manner. Discussion on the disputed point of interpretation to the Federal Court should be done. Election of some of the Committees which would be provided for in the rules should also be done in the first session of the Assembly. So many things were before our leaders to be completed as there was necessity of a Constitution to be framed for independence of our nation.
On 20th, the rules would be presented before the rules committee and on 21st they would be presented before the Assembly. If there were less amendments proposed in the rules presented by the rules committee, then they would be finalized and enacted for working of the House by not taking too much time. Assembly might discuss the point of interpretation by the Federal Court. For this if members agreed to assemble on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the work on these four important issues could be completed. Then Chairman pointed out that if members took less time to put their opinion then working should be done within time. If they could not finish by Monday, then the matter would be discussed after Christmas as 24th, 25th and 26th were public holidays. Then House can take up on 27th and 28th, 29th was Sunday and 30th was public Holiday of Birth Anniversary of Guru Govind Singh. Hence if members were prepared to sit on Sunday and work hard on these three days, then work might be completed. Chairman did not wanted to postpone all these works for next month i.e. next year. House had to finish this by sitting on Sunday, so that everyone can go on Christmas Vacation. Many members supported this plan. F R Anthony also supported this programme. Jawaharlal Nehru informed that United Nations General Assembly and committees did sit even on Sundays to expedite its work.
Then Chairman again expressed the plan to sit upto 1:00 pm on 19th, 20th no sitting so that Rules Committee could finish its work, and then on Saturday House would sit again. By Friday evening all members would be provided with copy of rules. On Saturday, House would decide matter of Federal Court in morning and then in afternoon might commence discussing the Rules. This was the programme fixed. F R Anthony on behalf of Christian community informed that for Christian members it would not be possible to attend the assembly from 27th to 1st of January. For this Assembly could have night sessions if it was necessary.
Kiran Shankar Roy of Bengal asked to give time of two to three days before general discussion on the Rules. This idea was different from the whole programme. Mr. B G Kher then said that the drafting of the rules was a technical matter for lawyers and 15 men with long experience of drafting rules with a competent secretariat had framed the rules. Were the members going to quarrel and debate about a work here and word there? He then suggested to sit at night and asked to fix the time for amendments and pass the amendments only by voting. This would save the time.
Dr. Mookherjee said that the passing of Rules would not be easy, every member should require ample time to study them and to move amendments on them. If the time framed in the above programme was sufficient then all should go by that programme otherwise choose a day in January to finalize the rules. Chairman said that the House should make an attempt to finish the consideration of Rules and other business also by Monday. As Rules Committee had 15 members representing various groups and shades of opinion and they had been taking time because they had been trying to arrive at conclusions which would be acceptable to all. Hence there would not be as much difficulties in those Rules as Kiran Shankar Roy anticipated. Then the continued to discuss on the Resolution of Aims and Objects, which was a kind of Pledge to proclaim Independence of India.
As per this programme the Assembly gathered in the Constitution Hall of Delhi on Saturday and discussed about rules of business of the Assembly and finalized them. Constituted various committees. But the Resolution of Aim and objects, which I mentioned as “Pledge to proclaim independence of India” in previous articles was kept on hold. Now in following articles I will explain the rules of Conduct of Business in short which were finalized after all proceedings and then would give you details of the various committees, so stay tuned and bookmark this site. This is our history and we should know it.
Note: This article is completely based on Constituent Assembly Debates and only for knowledge purpose.
Read Previous Parts
CAD: Pledge to Proclaim Independence of India: Part 14
CAD: Pledge to Proclaim Independence of India: Part 15
CAD: Pledge to Proclaim Independence of India: Part 16
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