The Law and the Untouchables
Lord Willingdon has taken the right and obvious course in regard to the various Bills for the relief of the untouch- ables. Two were to be introduced in the Madras Legislature and one in the Central Legislature at Delhi, but the Viceroy's prior consent was necessary in all three cases. Lord Willingdon has disallowed the introduction of the Madras Bills, but allowed the other, which is termed " the Untouchability Abolition Bill," on the reasonable ground that the question is clearly one of national and not merely local importance. The only possible ground for dissatisfaction with his decision lies in the fact that the Central Legislature Bill, which is allowed, is framed in more general terms than the Madras Bills, which are disallowed, but the Viceroy cannot be held responsible for that. The Government insists that time must be given for a full discussion of the Bill, both outside and inside the Legislature, and makes all reserves regarding its future action. Unless some new develop- ments change the situation the right course would appear to be for the official bloc to abstain, leaving the Indian members to settle for themselves what is essentially an Indian question.
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