I come now to amendments 442 and 444 which seek to delete clauses 4 (a)–it ought to be 4(a); It has been wrongly typed here; I sent amendment No. 442 as referring to clause 4(a) of the proposed new clause, not the whole of clause (4)–and clause 5 of the proposed new article. The House will see that clause (3) gives the President ample powers in the event of a Proclamation of Emergency under these circumstances. The last part of clause (3) reads thus: “and to the giving of such other directions as the President may deem necessary and adequate for the purpose.” This omnibus provision enables him to do practically what he likes so long as when he passes the order he says, “I am satisfied that it is necessary and adequate for the purpose.” He can do whatever he likes and nobody can question his acts or decrees or ordinances in a court of law or anywhere else on earth. In the face of this, I personally feel that there is no necessity for incorporating clause 4(a) in this article, because clause 4(a) refers to the reduction of salaries and allowances and some provisions about Money Bills which are matters which could come within the scope of the provision embodied in the second part of clause (3). So, this can be safely deleted without any detraction from the meaning that is attached to clause (a) and without derogating from any of the powers that this clause confers on the President in the event of a financial emergency.
