This document was downloaded by: National Digital Library (SAA)

http://www.southasiaarchive.com/Content/sarf.147532/231020/002

On: 16 Jun 2022 at 19:24:56

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Copyright Information:

Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales

Registered Number: 1072954

Registered Office: 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG, UK

Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.southasiaarchive.com/Terms-and-Conditions

Taylor & Francis make every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained
in our publications. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or
warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content.
Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are
not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon
and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor & Francis shall not be
liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other
liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or
arising out of the use of the Content.
 S

INTRODUCTION.
In the course of the debates in Parliament on the Government of
India Act it was explained that it was not then possible to include in the
franchise provisions inserted in the Bill provision for the qualifications
of voters for the Council of State and for Provincial Upper Chambers.
His Majesty's Government, therefore, indicated their intention of leaving
these matters to be settled in due course by Order in Council, the drafts
of which would be laid before Parliament for approval by Resolution
under the provisions of section 309 of the Act.
On 31st July the appointment was announced in Parliament of an
Indian Delimitation Committee, the terms of reference of which were
placed in the Library of both Houses. The duty of this Committee will
be to make recommendations upon the delimitation of constituencies
and upon numerous other points of detail connected with the franchise
and elections, provision for which will be made by Order in Council.
It is essential to the due discharge of this Committee's task (which, as
already announced, is to be commenced in India at the end of Septem-
Downloaded by National Digital Library (SAA) on 16 Jun 2022 at 19:24:56

ber) that it should be in possession of a general indication of the pro-

posals which it is the present intention of His Majesty's Government
to submit to Parliament for approval in relation to the franchise for the
Council of State and for the Provincial Upper Chambers.
The particulars which follow are accordingly a statement in general
terms of the proposals which His Majesty's Government have now
framed for this purpose ; they also include proposals on two other
matters of which it is necessary that the Delimitation Committee should
be informed, namely, the qualifications (in so far as these are not already
embodied in the Government of India Act, 1935) of voters and candi-
dates for the Federal Legislature in Chief Commissioners' Provinces
and the castes and tribes to be classified as Scheduled Castes for the
purposes of the Act. The Delimitation Committee have been instructed,
in framing their recommendations, to takee into account the present
proposals, which will in due course be submitted for the approval of both
Houses of Parliament in pursuance of the provisions of section 309 of the
Government of India Act, along with the other matters relating to elections
under the Act which remain to be settled by Order in Council.
It may be added that, so far as it is possible to estimate the effects
of these proposals for the electorate for the Council of State without
actually framing electoral rolls, His Majesty's Government believe that
they will produce an electorate consisting in the aggregate of about
130,000 voters.