Minutes of the Meeting

Summary

This one-page office record, dated December 8, 1969, records a meeting of the Swatantra Parliamentary Party’s executive committee held at Parliament House in New Delhi. It lists the members present and notes a decision to permit three party members to attend a population-control seminar called by Mr. and Mrs. Deshmukh in their individual capacities.

The minutes then set out the party’s position on the Constitution (Twenty-Third Amendment) Bill concerning the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Members who strongly opposed the party’s amendment could be absent during the vote; if the amendment failed, the Bill would nevertheless be supported, while dissenting members could remain absent. The record also approves support for postponing the Bill’s final passage if other parties proposed such a move. Finally, it records nominations to select committees and requests Shri Lobo Prabhu and Professor Amin to speak on taxation and excise legislation.

Key points

• The executive committee meeting was held at 1:00 p.m. in the Swatantra Party room, Central Hall, Parliament House, New Delhi.
• The committee agreed that three members could attend a population-control seminar in their individual capacities.
• The minutes address the Constitution (Twenty-Third Amendment) Bill on reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
• Members strongly opposed to the party amendment could be absent during the vote.
• The party would support the Bill if its amendment failed and would support postponement of final passage if proposed by other parties.
• Members were nominated to select committees, including the Advocates Amendment Bill and the Commission of Inquiry Bill.
• Shri Lobo Prabhu and Professor Amin were asked to speak on Union duties of excise and the Additional Duties of Excise Bill.