Constituent Assembly Debates. Official Report Saturday 8th January 1949

We have been during the past few days devoting our attention in the Constituent Assembly to the consideration of the articles of the Draft Constittion relating to the Constitution and composition of our future Central and Provincial Legislatures. [...] In some of the Provinces and States the first stage of the work namely the preparation of the preliminary rolls is almost complete. [...] Resolved further that the State electoral rolls be prepared on the basis of the provisions of the new Constitution already agreed to by this Assembly and in accordance with the principles hereinafter mentioned namely (1) That no person shall be included in the electoral roll of any constituency— (a) if he is not a citizen of India; or (14 if he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a compe [...] Another point is that in sub-clause (a) of paragraph (1) of your motion it is stated that "no person shall be included in the electoral roll of any constituency if he is not a citizen of India " but unfortunate-1y Sir we have not passed the article on citizenship and therefore it may raise difficulties for the enumerator or the officer in charge of the electoral rolls as to who is a citizen and [...] The dignity of the House and the dignity of the country requires that a Resolution of this kind should be moved.