I remember- and I hope my memory does not betray me-that when Mr. Mahavir Tyagi brought this amendment to my original amendment in this House some months ago, he made a point of this and pleaded that so far as the oath, the swearing was concerned it should go above the line, being more important, and the affirmation should go beneath the line, and the House accepted it. Accordingly; and this final form of the affirmation or oath was as stated in article 49 which has been incorporated in this little booklet supplied to us. I am sure Mr. Tyagi will bear me out when he makes a speech today in the House. In this connection I am also glad to see that Mr. Jaspat Roy Kapoor has tabled an amendment on the same lines as mine, that is to say restoring the form of the oath as adopted in this House. Dr. Ambedkar has inverted it now, and I appeal to the House to restore the status quo ante, the original form of oath or affirmation as accepted and adopted by the House. Dr. Ambedkar might argue that the difficulty is that the language of the first amendment which he has moved today is to the effect: “Forms of Affirmations or Oaths” that is to say the word “‘affirmation” comes first and “oath“‘ comes next. Therefore, according to that wording affirmation must come on the top of line and the oath must come below the line. I wonder whether Dr. Ambedkar will bring forward this argument, but if this argument is brought forward, then I for one would say that the heading could be changed to the effect “Forms of Oaths or Affirmations” and then retain the form of the oath as adopted by the House already, that is to say, the swearing of the oath should go on top of the line and the. affirmation must go below the line. I am not a stickler for forms but I think that so far as the House is concerned it must not deviate from the form which it adopted long ago in December last; and I think that without adequate reason we should not alter or invert the form of oath or affirmation which the House has already adopted. Sir, I move my amendment No. 103 List II, Fifth Week, and commend it to the House for its earnest consideration. It is as follows :
“That in amendments Nos. 56 to 63 of List I (Fifth Week) of Amendments to Amendments in the form of the oath or affirmation in the Third Schedule, for the words:
‘solemnly affirm____________________________swear in the name of God.”‘
(proposed to be substituted), the following be substituted:-
‘swear in the name of God____________________________solemnly affirm.'”