7. Parsees: In the Minorities Sub-Committee, Sir Homi Mody had urged that in view of the importance of the Parsee community and the contribution it had been making to the political and economic advancement of the country Parsees should have adequate representation in the Central and Provincial Legislatures. The sub-committee were of opinion that this claim should be conceded. In view, however, of the opinion expressed to him by several members that an advanced community like the Parsees would be adequately represented in any event and did not need specific reservation, Sir Homi had asked for time to consider the matter.
When the issue came before the Advisory Committee, Sir Homi stated that though the committee had already accepted the Parsee community as a recognized minority entitled to special consideration on the same basis as other minorities in group A, he had decided to follow the traditions which the community had maintained in the past and to withdraw the claim for statutory reservation. He assumed that Parsees would remain on the list of recognized minorities and urged that if, during the period prescribed in the first instance for the special representation of the minorities it was found that the Parsee community had not secured proper representation, its claim would be reconsidered and adequate representation provided, if the separate representation of minorities continued to be a feature of the Constitution. The committee appreciated the stand taken by Sir Homi and agreed to his proposal.