The Bihar Chamber of Commerce

TELEPHONE NO : 505 

The Bihar Chamber of Commerce 

[ SUPPORT INDIAN INDUSTRIES ] 

No. 14225 / 

P.O. BOX NO. 71
P A T N A
The 5th August’49. 

✓To 

The Secretary,
Drafting Committee,
Constituent Assembly of India,
NEW DELHI. 

Dear Sir,  

While submitting herewith copy of a resolution adopted by the Annual General Meeting of the Bihar Chamber of Commerce held on 2.7.49, I have to state as follows:-  

The Committee of the C[unclear]hamber are glad to note that the Constituent Assembly has approved that there should be a second Chamber both at the Centre & in the Provinces. The powers of the Upper Houses have been considerably curtailed but considering the ideological climate of the present day, it was perhaps difficult for sponsors of the official resolution to do otherwise. The fact, however, remains that in a country where people are largely illiterate and steeped in superistition, the granting of adult franchise will not by itself ensure a successful functioning of the Indian Democracy. The future legislatures elected on the basis of adult franchise are bound to be swayed by monetarymomentary passion and in their revolutionary zeal for bringing about the millenium, may undertake legislations which will shake the very fabric of our social life and affect the component parts of the State. With its powers curtailed, the Upper Houses will not be able to set the pace or control the direction of legislations but they will certainly be able to induce reconsideration of any particular measure and their moderation, maturity and constructiveness will exercise salutary influence on the future course of parliamentary legislation. The Committee of the Chamber, therefore, express their wholehearted approval of the decision to retain the Upper Houses even with reduced powers.  

The Committee of the Chamber have noted that it has not been so far possible to evolve any agreed formula relating to the constitution[unclear] of the Upper Houses and the relevant article has been held over for further deiscussion. Whatever formula is ultimately evolved, it will be agreed[unclear] that representatives of Industrial and Commercial interests must find a place in the Upper Chamber both at the Centre and in the Provinces. It need not be emphasised that the contribution of the Business Community both in the winning of Independence and in the post-independence period have not been in–considerable. The high administrative talents of many of the Business magnets have, the Committ8 gladly appreciate, have been harnessed to the cause of the Nations irrespective of narrow party considerations and this chamber has been persistent in the demand that the example set by the Centre should be taken up by the provinces also. That is a matter, however, of adjustment and compromise but representation in the Upper Houses is, in the opinion of the Com[unclear]ittee inherently justified. The Bihar Chamber of Commerce is the most representative organisation of the Trade & Commerce of the Province and it is hoped that it would be allotted at least 3 Seats in the Provincial Upper House to be constituted under the new constitution. It may be noted that this Chamber is at present represented in the Bihar Legislative Assembly by one of its Constituents. It is hoped that you will give due consideration to the suggestion made.  

Thanking you, 

Yours faithfully, 

Encl. 1. Resolution. 

Hony. Secretary.  

A.G.  

RESOLUTION. 

REPRESENTATION IN THE UPPER CHAMBER. 

This Chamber considers the constructive associations of the business community with the formulation of our Governmental policies both at the Centre and in the provinces necessary and desirable. It holds that the experience of the businessman also must flow into the common brain pool from which our policies emanate and hence emphasises their adequate representation in the Upper Chamber both at the Centre and in the Province. A country where public opinion is ill-formed, gradualness must be the keynote of our political practice and representation to the business community would, while imparting a practical tone to the idealistic deliberations of legislatures elected on the basis of adult franchise, in no way stand in the t fulfilment of the will of the people. This aspect should be borne in mind by the Constituent Assembly and the various Delimitation g[unclear] Committees at the time of allocation of seats under the New Constitution. In respect of the province of Bihar at least three seats in the Upper Chamber should be allotted to this Chamber of Commerce which is the oldest and the most representative organisation of the Province. 

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1.Certain content in the document was unclear or incompletely written. The same has been marked as [unclear].   

2.Typographical errors in the original document have been retained to ensure authentic reproduction of the original document.