Chfipter VII

CCKORRS'' KIRIv^RY H!34I>En BY 4 .J , JOHN

(Mar 1962 to Stp 1953)

On aoeount of seranble for Iradsr^ip «nd group rivalri«8 Inside the Congretis Party, several ministries toppled doKn betve«in 1948 ond 1952. Many of the proffineot lealers left this rarty and Joined some other parties, According to S.C, Joseph, "On the eve of the

1981»SS elections, the Congress Party had to face the sad speetaele of dividing its o%« leadership, Influence and vote betveen the Socialist Party (iSP) and the Tanilnad C!onrress (TTHC) apart from ttie strong opposition 1 of all the leftist parties in the state**. The list of candidates sponsored hy this party vas finalised after interference by the Con;?rj«>t Kigh Coarand, and after iMigthy negotiations with lea'iers of sone of the commmel organlKationa, The result of the 1962 General Klection revealed that the Congress vas no more In a coia<*ortable Bajority, bat had landed itself in a precarious position. The struggle for leader^ip Inside tije Congress vhidi resulted In frequent change of i!iln5 stries, the Inability -161- of this party to solve the pressing economic ppoblema of the stnte vh«n it vas in power* and finally the deeend for llnguistle provinces« crated diaotle conditions in t^e state politics. The Oeneml Election of 1982 gave rise to a number of nerties. The party-posltlon in the legislature after th«» elections in 1952 vasi Congrpss 44, CoBT-unist 95, Socialist Party 11, r?HC 8 , RSP 6 , KSP 3, Cochin Party 1, Independent CoBminist Independent 5, and ^lo-Indian nominate 1*

Alliance with the TTWC to fora Gcvemnept

Ka the Conf^ress Party did not possess an absolute najority, it made alliance with the T7RC and a government was formed under the leadership of 4«J, John. V^ile the THIC followed Congress Ideology, it deaanded separation of Tamil*sper;king ares from Travaneore for merging with the neighbouring Mndrai State and claimed recognition as a separate Pradesh Con ress which the Congress Party in the state could not accept. Originally none of the ■embers of the TIVC was Included in the Ministry, but on account of pressure from this group, one of its members, Mr, Ghidamberenatha Nadar, was later included in the Ministry. -168.

SBBg&4Sii&.g£gaaiLl«^,.a><^

Th9 united front of leftists fomed try the Conr'unlst Party, the HSP, and th© KSP for the ©lections In 1962, continued in the legislature. The HFL ^ s the largest Dlnorlty party and Its leader Kr« T,V« Thomas (CoQ?nunlst) MBS d

> aix.0n t t>y the CBi?eilt5 on P n t ia s on the F irst Oey

Thr first session after the General Election oonrflBeed on Mardi 94, 1 ^ 8 . Isnaedlately nis H l ^ e s s the RajapramtdEh entered the chamber to address the newly elected assetsbly, the Leader of the opposition along with aenbern of the walked out of the ftsseably protesting against the retention of the office of Rajapranulth, which according to thea vas cf feudalism. On the sane day, eieiBbers of the UFL stsged another valk*out %^lle moving a condolence resolution on the deolse of King George VI. Mr, T .V , Thcnas, Leader of the Opposition« walked out saying that the discussions would perpetuate the old relation with thf> B r it l ^ enplre. The f^cialist

Party did not participate In this deoonstration. -163.

Oovemnpnt Policy

The policy of the Govf'rnoMtit was annotmeei to the Housr^ by the Hojapraraikh 1a his address^ firstly on March 24, 1962 and finally on February 26, ld63« On both

these occasions he enphasieed the economic problens facing the 8tfi)te 9Qch as food shortage, uneiaploynent, need for Indus trial is^tictf), ?nd uplift of barlrv^rd classes. 4a a refiedial oeature to moet food*shortage, suit;^ble land* legislation was promised, l^lle ad^tressing the Houie on February 25, ld63, the Hajspramukh stressed the Importance of food«preblen feeing the st te, nnd assurf^d that the

Govf^miaent vo’Jld take effective st«?ps to improve food- supply by irrigation and Intensive cultivation* As r<»gards ln depre•^ion In the coir 2 industry in the coastal aree.

During the debates on the am^dsents moved to the Biotion of t ! ^ k s to the Rajapraimikh for his o'Mr«^sS| the? opposition oesbers pointed cut onissicvis on the part of

S, TCLP, Vol. VIH, Ho, 1, pp. 1-6 (26,S.19 3) •164*

3 the Oovcrnsiflnt to solve «conoBie probI«Bs, The amisndsonts

moved t>7 the menberi of the opposition on Febniary 28 1 1963 to tile etotlon of ^hanks to the head of the st'^te can suRBia rifled a a follows i

(I) Oovernnetit ftalled to take effective steps to arrest the deterioration In econoalc eondltlona (T,V* Thonas • Coinnunlst) (II) Oovemoent failed to ^ake note of and devise neaBs to consider the grovlng unenployiBent and acute eeononle distress prevailing in the country C'.S, Ramasvaisy • Socialist) (III) There vas no sentIon In t^e address about the appal*

Ing poverty and alspry of the ryots In Sou^ Travancore. Dlscrlolnatlori \4os dio>ai to South Travancore Kunjan Nadar • TTI^C) (Iv) No laiid refonss conteoplatod Ir the address nor <11d %.% nentlon abcut the ^allwre of coir and other Industries (T»4, Kajeed - CoBRminlst)

(v) In the address the?e \;as no reference to the distress of the middle class caused by the fall In prices of comnerelel crops (K ,J , Thc«as - Independent) (vl) Therf» was no policy to solve the uneDployment problen nor the ^overninent able to secure Its proper share fron the Centrol alloentlon of finances on the basis of population (M,M. Abdul Ehadlr • Corsmunlst)• t 3. rCLP, Vol VIII, No. 4, pp. 226-945 (28.2.1953) -165-

Vilille BCBbers of the TTHC expressed dlssatlsfeetion ovpv the partial treetnent given to the soQthem arpa, the ?^m^(Sii«nt3 moved by an independent oenber pointed out the distress of the nldtll* class. M l tti© parties in opposition expressed the view that the Government failed to solve the econoole problen facing the state.

Budget Dlsciisslcns

Refusal Of 4eBfai%fpr grants:- On the second

day of the session of the newly elected ^issemblyi the Gov'^mnent ves de^'eated over a supplenentary dcnsnd for

*s 26yS60 for eOhanolng tJie pension given to an e3C-rwl^>r of a state (Cranganor- 1 K««bers of the opnosltlctfi es veil as of tile 7T1?C voted against this dcnand. voting was 49 for the deoand« 51 against, and 1 neutral. Some of the nembers vlto voted against this dcoand eTspressikl tlielr unwillingness to Dalntr^in 9n aristoemtle class with public nonoy,

Flnenolal agreecant 'Ihe major Issue raised by the opr^sltion parties daring budget discussions fbr 198S»53 the financial agreenent between the state and the Central aovomment, empovrerlng

the latter to collect the revenue on export and ijicome-

4. TCLP, Vol. V, Ho. S, r,66 (26.3.1962) •1 6 6 . tftXf %lileh fonied a Bajoi* soure« of itat«*s liieoB«

(nearly 40 per cent) prior to integmtlon* The right to collect this reventie was surrendered In lien of a lufflp am of Ra, S80 lakhs. The opposition moabers blAoed the Oovemnent that they were net eonsulted about this negotiation, resulting In a her^vy loss to the state. IXirlng the goneral discussion of thp budge t fbr 1962, nenbors of the opposition as veil as some Dpobors of the govemaent party expressed rrave concern over this aureeaent and insisted that the Central Oovemment 5 sh* uld be approodwti to revise the agreement. The govrmraent too seeded to hove resliaed Its nlstake later. While presenting the budget for the year 1953» ^ e Finance Minister, said, **After the Integration cf Travnnecre and Codiln with thc^ Indian UnicH, \/e have a right to get a ahare of *^he export-duty on articles \^1(^ are produced mainly in Travancore-Coc^ln, In not placing Trfrancor^CocMn state on par vith the states Bflnticne^ In Article 5?73 of the Constitution with respect to export (%ity on pepper, etc., the st'^te has a reasonable 6 right to cofitplein that justice ha?? not been done to it” .

5 . TCLP, ? • ! . \T[, No.S, pp. 131-132, Cl.7.l95f') H illi 3, p. 109 <8.7.1962) iilld, No. 4 , pp. 313-3r5 (3.7.196JI) 6. Tap, Vol. VIII, No. 11, p. 872 (9.3,1953) •167«

Tyatloni- Th« nanbers of the UFL and the ISP opposed taxation proposala nade In the Budget on ttie around that the burden of taxation fell on the poorer sections of tho ^'onvnunity* During tiie goneral discussion of the Budget on Maroh 14| 1953, Mr, C«

\ehutha Meoon (Consminlst) said t ^ t In a budget for a welfare states the burden of taxation on a eoorm man should be reducedf and he fticuld be as9ur

said that the sales«tax was a regressive type of taxation and insisted that the tax should not be colleotad as It e would affoct adversely the poor section. Nesbers of

the ISP opposed the collection of agrlcnltural incoae* tax* peaking on the deoaiid for this item, Hr* P*8*

I^ataraja Plllai (fiocialist) saidi **lt is ao illegal exaction on th© part of the govemBent if they realise incoae*tax froa people \^o have no taxable Incooo'** All the opposition parties plesded for the exeDptlon of food*stuffy cottage-industry goods, etc* fros; th^ purview of S3!«1^8»tax as thnt would adversely affect the poorer

7 . TCLP, Vol. V III, No* 14, p* 1144 <14*3*1953) 8. Ibid. No. 18, (19*3*1953} , pp. 1556-57 -168-

8«etioB of the eonnnmiity*

D faad for aocial-velfnrq schwesi- iiJill© oppoiltloB parties r«9«ntod the eeosares for t«xatic«t the Qovemaent vie*; ^aced with tho problem of finding fintfice# There v^s alBO a dflBaBd from all the parties tor increased social vwlfare aetivities in the state. VSiile discussing the donphd for Medical and Public Health on July 17, 106S, the menbers of opposition pointed out the shortage of funds allotted to these departaents. The Budret denaiid for the year 1982-53 for Medical and Public Health vies opposed by the ISP and the Co-runist Party to point out Uie ovorerowdlng in hospitals, shortage of medicine and equipa«t as well as doctors.

Moving a cat-Tnotion to the Oenand for Rural Dev«'lopn«it on March S3, 1963, Mr, Rataraja Plllai (rrp) pointed out that though the aovernBent proposed to double the nunber of paiichayats, no amount tges provided in the budget for such Increase, and that there ^ras no 9 provision for \#ater supply or for itens of public \40xlc.

A eenber of the Conciunist Party said that, as cMipared « \dth the provious year, the expenditure^ for Rural 10 Developn»€Bt had been re<1uced br Rs, S lalths.

9. TCLP, Vol. VIZI, No. 21, p. 1978 (23.3,1063) 10. TCLP, Vol. VIII, No. 22, p. 2072 (S4.3.1953) •1 6 9 .

AftatelataaUfin

It cannot b« seid that the state had an effielent a^inistration prior to t)» sohleveiMSt of indiep€nd«ie(> • The charges of oorruptlon in adainistrationf delay and favouritism, often repeated by opoaition parties In the legi5:Iature| were the relics of the autooratio rule* During bu^iget disoussion for 196S-53, the opposition necabers criti0 i:;ed the govemiaent for heavy expenditure, copruptfon, delay In govemnent offices and lade of norale on the part of govemeent employees, Mi imriortant point the cppositlon parties frequently raised In the legislature m e the increase In the expenditure on adnlnlstratic»i» Tc some extent, of course^ the expenditur defective adDlnistrative set up was pointed out by sev ral opposition IS oenbers. They also pointed out Instances of d ^ y In 1 3 govemnant officers•

11. TCLP, Vol. VI, Ho, 9, pp, 86 -870 (9.7.1962) 12. TCLP, Vol. VI. Wo. 12, p. U96 (12.7.1962) 13. TCLP, Vol. VIll, Wo, 18, p. 1663 (19.3,1953) -170-

Bflcrultnait to Pablie

Public service has been the apple of dlsecrd In the st^te. It he 8 been the cense of many coanonaX bldcering. Any Btt&mpt oede by the govrrfUMnt to curtail the po\7er of the Public Service Commissloii has been vleved with great concern by the opposition parties.

The Public vOervlce CcemlsslcMi Consultation Regulation^ which MRM pnssed on October 27» 1961, wng placed before the House on Octobcr 30f 1968y and wss taken up for discussion on March 31, 196^^ The »f«»bers of the opposltlcai pointed out the inordinate delay in placing this important regulation before the Rouse. This regulation stlpnlatea that It ahall not be necessary fc^ the Coi^mlsslcai to be consulted in regard to the maklnK of any appolntneot , the terms of v^lch are governed by ecu tract. The curtailment of the power of the Public Senrlce Comnlsslon was opposed by the PSP and th

14. TCLP, Vol. v n i. Ho. 27, pp. 2531-2680 (31,3.19B3) •in­

to be consulted In regard to the '^itablllty of candl'lates for promotion within the s-ae service, Kovlng an nnend- aent to delete Uiis elauset Hr. T«K* Kriahnan (Conrunist)

cited an exanplo of en individual appointed, without prevloua experienee, aa privatp aws.etary to one of the previoua nlnistera and subsequently confiraied in the sane grade.

The government refused to aooept any niaendiifliit.« The Chie** Minister explained that ^or expeditious oompletl«i

of the ConmuBity Development f^cheees vhich the state had taken under the Five-Year Plana, it \-ws n©ci?88ery to take at^y such appointments ^rom the purviev of the Public Service CoiKni;;nion. It is interesting to note that ^en

the subsc(}ueRt PSP and Connunist ministries made use of

the same regulations fbr icakln^ appointments on oontract, the Congress Party opposed such neosures. ki¥

The administration of the police department \mn subject to scathing critieism by opposition parties. The major oonplaints brought a^ainat this department veret assaulting prisoners in lodc-ups, interfer^ee in the affairs of politionl parties, and keeping prisoners under inhygienic conditions. Before voting on the demand -172-

for ttip y*?5r 195S-53f B«abers of the Connunist Party brought calnly tvt> charges^ v i? , the party in pow«»r m a utilising the police forco to retain its povert and the nitres taent of nriscsiers by the evployees of ttils 16 departiient, VSien the ^enand for this departsent for

1953»64 cane up for discussion on Ksrdi 16» 1963| ■enbera of the UFL polntrl out the Inhunan treatment given In the Jailsy such as assaulting, lade of hygienic 16 condition, and corruption* 4 menber of the PBP

■entioned about the abnonaal expenditure without correspond­ ing benefit to tile? public and the interfer^ce of fJie 17 police in th# affairs of politicnl parties. On v*?rlous occasicns questlms were asked by ambers of Corfsminist Party to give ietails of eor>plainta received by the 18 rovemnent regarding police assaults. in reply to s question a ^ e d by a nenber of the Gonrtinist Party, the How# Minister placed before the House a list of 33 persons who died in police lock-ups betveen 1948 and 1982* By asking su'pleHtfitary questions nedbers of the UFL tried 19 to establish that the prisoners were tortured to death.

15. TCLP, Vol. V2, No. 8 , pp. 746-797 (8.7.1962) 16. TCLP, Vol Vllt, Ho. 16, pp.1221-1237 (16.3.1963) 17. TCLP, Vol V III, Ro. 16, pp. 1237-39 (16.3.1963) 18. TCLP, Vol V III, Ho. 21, p. 1912 (r3.3.1963) 19. TCLP, Vol V I, 8o. 6 , pp. 499-500 (5.7.1962) •173-

Menbers of the PSP too brought various duirges sudi as ln«f'leieney of orlm« investigstloB and Inadequate police prot

Natamja Filial (PSP), the police drpartnent nanlfested 20 a kind of obsession to the vork of political parties,

Ipdostrlalizatlon

The paramount importance of industrialisation as a BeQ'«r»» to eradieate uneBployment and to iinprov- th« standard of living vas admitted in his (iddress by llie RnjaproBUkhi and In the budget speeches of the ?'lnance Minister, The Plnance Minister ^ l l e prc^sent ng the budget for 1953*541 nentlone<1 various schemes the government 21 pro-posed to take to inprore the coir Industry, The slow pace of lndustriali!!^tion| depresslcm in the existing major Industries sudi as colrt handloom, and ea^e\«ut , unsatisfactory managenent of gov<»rnment-oiined Industriesy ond low return fron private Industries in ^ I c h the govrm- m«nt had Invested money were very often polntf>d out by the members of the opposition.

The disability of voxkers employed in coir Industry

20, TCLP, Vol, VIII, Woc 15, pp. 1229-30 (16.3.1953) 21. Ib id . No. 11 (9,3.1963),P.863 In th« coastal aree» eonsf»qii«iit on fltpression In thii industry, was broa^t to th© notice of the gOTfernB^Dt

by 9«verf»l Danbera during the ganaraX discussion of the

budget on June 30, IM S . Mr, T,V . Thoaas (Coamunlst) LMdar of the OpT Ositiony eritloisad the lnflbl!lt^ of the gov'^'^naent to give relief to coir woikers and save the Industry fron daprea*?lon.

Unsatisfactory wanagmmt of >^ovemaant»o«n«d industries I and l

He said that the Govpmnent was k^en to Invest money in private Industries free \^lch there vas no return at all. In reply to a question asked by Mr. Nataraja Pillai (PaP) on July 3 , 1902, the Minister for Industries plae<»d before the House the details of ^ov«>mB«nt investments In private industries and the return froa then, ^ e n it w^s adnitted that most of the Industries were not functioning properly. During budget discussions also oenbers of the PSP pointed 22 out the inproper nanagenent of governiaeDt industries.

Land Reforas

On aceount of the lov per capita availability of land In the state, the political parties. In their election -178.

■anlfestos, promised to bring sultAble laiJd-leglslatlon for the distribution of available land to the landless. Opposition parties in the legislaturet on safversl occa9ions» urged the ^ovemncnt to bring land Isvt for nitigating the problem of unemploynent and food-shortage. Apart from periodically extending the Holdings Stay of Execution Proceedings Act prohibiting eviction of tenants frcB their lands on certain cooditionsi this Ministry did not bring any Innd^leg islet ion. The land-o^lne Interest inside ^ e Congress Party prevented the govomeent from bringing any land-bills. The OFI> and tt» PSP accused the govc>mn«iit of its inability to bring

landa

Unauthorised oeeupatlon of govf^rnneiit lands vsr a serious problem faced by ^ e §oveniB4«t« Vrst a r ^ s of forest lands wero occupied individually and eollee^ively by several people vith the support of one or the oth<>r politieel party. There ^ s no clear*eut policy on this ouestion vith any of thr parties. The oeeupatlon of forest lands was justified by every party to suit the convenience of its followers•

On Novenber €| I962t a Suppleneiitary Demand for

Land Revenue war opposed by Mr. K,J» ThoaaSf an indepeodellt msmber as the demasd vrs for meeting the <>zp(t}ses of evicting people \Aio had settled in forest area* Ihe Oenand for Land Revenue for the year "953»64 was oprosed by the PSP, ns the policy of the govemn«nt to remove unauthorized ocnipants of forest land was not made clear. Mr, Nataraja Pillai (PSP) Insisted upon the need for evicting unauthoriKe'i occupants from government lands nnd for distributing surplus lands on the basis - i r / .

of eo*operatlve cultivation to^goor landless pscple and th« actual tillers of the soil.

Edueo tlon

This Qlnlstry carried out gone Inportant educational rcforDs. It enhano(?d the pay of s

by priva te agencies» nnd g«ve fducntlonnl corees^^lon to the ^lldrcsi of non*gaz;ette

expenditure on the port of th« govomBont and v^ere opposed by the PSF and the Comrunlst Party* VI)lie oproslng the )enand for Education fbr 1963, Mr, Thanu Plllal (PSP)

pointed <-ut that the gove nnent was very solicitous about teachers employed by private sgencles and has allowed them to drav higher pay though It had absolutely no voice in their apr>olntB€iit8« Re said that he did not expect the govemnent to spend public coney on persons In respect of %^ose employBKiit eovemoent had no voice. Opposing the policy of the government In granting concession to the children of non»gas;etted employees of the state, Mr,

Thanu Plllal said that there vere people vAio had to vorlr harder l^an l^ m to get lb 50 pc^r nonldi. He denanded that education shculd be mrde free for all at l«»ast up to the 24 middle*sdiool stage*

23, TCLP, Vol. V n i , No, 16* p .1337 <17.3.1963) 24. Ibid. No. 17, pp. 1492-W (18.3.19S3) • 178-

Tadmlimw ef tfap OppogltloB

^dlougpn«t. WQJtlQaat■» Motions tor adjoumoent of the baslness of the Hoase for dlscusalng a definite ■attcr or urgent public Importanee e©n b« mov*ci by the mcabers of 0 pp0 8 ltlcn|,lf, in their opinion^ the govemnant failed to take note of any Inpftrtant event affecting the gflneral public* Only one audi motion osn be moved vith the ooDsent of the Speaker on any alngle day* It haa to be on a apeeiflc matter of recent occurr^cei and should not oontein noro than one natter and natter subjudice* Leeve for such notions is gmnted if at least 25 aenbera fu^'r^pt theo. On account of various restrictions^ the ditfices of 8

Ihe adjonnmeDt notions moved In the House during the period of this ministry are given in Appendix K, They give an Idea of the urgent matters brott^t before the House. Although 94 adjocimmeBt motiona trare noved by the oppositi^ meoberay leave vns granted to only aix* Of the six motions» five w r e just discussed •1 7 9 .

•Dd the only one pat to vote vas lost. The sdJourniHBt notions listed In 4ppendiz 4 ean be classified as fol^owst*

Object fiX Moved 4dnitted

Labour disputes IB 3 l\)od shortpge 3 1 Inadequate nedical relief 2 m Lav and order 1 1 Police assault 1 1 Uithdrawal of coins 1 m Formation of United Kern la 1 m

Totals 84 6

Xt is seen from the elasslfication that the pressing problenst vhioht aeeording to the opposition the Govonunent could not aolve» vere the labour iisputes, food ahortegof and lode of medical facilities* Celitoit ottantion of ttw Home on e f

The followSug subjects were brought up fOP fliscussion In the House by call notices. -130.

Dat« Subject of the BenlMr

4.7.1962 Slump In coir Induftpy H, Gnngedheran (CoaBmr>i^ 6.7.1952 W«cessity for canc«lllftg e. Sanknr (TTNC) liconoos to rice mills ctHiscqttent on vnwiploy- oent to sonual vorkera 9.7.1955 Kanuracture of salt P.S.H. Pillai (PSP) U .7 .1 9 6 2 Depression in handlooa P.Kavindran (Conrounist) Industry

53.7.1955 Sea erosion Aleseander F, (Congress) 1.4.1953 Illegal possession of M.rJ.Oovindan Nair forest lend (Cofae!i:ml8t)

In all these eases the gov^mneDt promised to do the needful.

Resolutlopsa- a nnmber of re'^olutions vere noved by Beobers of the op^'osition parties, though none of then was accepted by ttie House* On 18.7.1962, Hr. C. Achutha Msnon (Contaunist) moved c reajlution to appoint a eciimittse to InvostigRte the condltlcsis In jails. On 31.10.19S2, Hr. T.S. RsmsTOaimy (Socinlist) Boved a resjolution requesting the sovernawilt to give relief to agriculturists in scuthem talults doe to crop fcllure. On 7.11.1962, Mr. T.K. Divalcaren (RSP) »pved -IBlo

8 rosolQtiaa to appoint a oonmlttM to «nncilre Into th« vorklng of the industries in vhich the gov(>niB6at had invested a

On 6*3»1963, Mr, FrakulaB Bhasi (RBP) mo^ed a resolution reeoDn«Bding to the Govemoent to inplenent the Plantation Labour Ket of 1961 of the Goverment of

India.

On 6.3,1083 Mr* C*N, Pottl (Bf?P) moved a resolution that the ^ovemtient should take st ps to abolish oil comcnnal organl3!atl<»it in tlie state.

On 88,3«1963, Mr, N .S , Pillal (Comnunlst) aoved a resolution that t.he dearness allovences of novernaieot servants drawing less than Hs,60 per month should be merged with their pay.

\^lle all the above resolutions were r<»Jeeted by the House* a resolution inoved by the Chief Minister Impressing upon the Central Ooverneent the neoessity to safeguard the Interest of the ex-state officials taken over by the C<^ntral Covemraent %«s passed by the House, This re olutlon vas supported by all t^e opposltiMi partlei.

Privilege Issueai^ During the period of this Ministry two privilege Issues vore raised by the oprositlon

■embers. -1B2.

On 9«3«18639 Mr* C« Aehotha M«non (Com uolat)

broQght fl privilege motion on the leakage of the Budgetf as sroe of the taxation proposals were publi^ed In the nevspaperi Prathatham. before the Finance Minister

p re se n tttio bu-lget to the Hcuae* The 'Speaker ruled the motion oat of order saying that it vas only a 25 speeuletion.

The second issue vas rsise'1 on the conduct of a eovemaaDt official. On Septeniber 19S3« Mr, H ,8 , Pillai (CooT’unist) moved a privilege motion on the

conduct of a Project executive Of'icer, 1^ 0 , in a public speech» hs)d criticised the opposition ML4a in the 26 Legislature* for opposing the Conrsunlty Project Schenes*

Mesbers of the opposition parties nalntained that th'* individual being a govemntnt servant had no authority to discuss or criticise vhat tock place in the Rouse* This privilege notion ves referred to a Privilege Conoit^.Mi but before the receipt of tiie report from * the Privilege Connittee the ministry resignedf and the state legislature v«s dianissed*

26. TCLP, Vol. m i , Ho, 11, p. 846 (9.3.1963) S6, TCLP, Vol. IX R o .l, pp. 68-73 (22.9.1963) -183> prints K«rtW3' Bill - Bifufcatlfln of the High anttt

ht the tlBe of integration of Travaneort” and Cochin in 1949, there vea an uni era tending botvean the mtiriMrs of the Congress Party of these tvo states to keep the headquarters of the state at Trivandrum {capital' of Travanoore) and to shift the High Court to Bmakalam (eapltal of Cochin). Bat the people of south Travaneore deaaoded a branch of the High Court In TrlvandruBi and started an agitation 'or this purpose. It wrs led by one of the ex-Chlef Hinlstersy Mr* T»K» Narajnusa filia l.

4 menber of ^ e PSP from sonth TraTanoore, Mr« P«S. Hataraja Plllal« vaa given permission to introduce thf> High Court ^meBdwnt Bill \ihleh sought to establish an additional Bench of the Travaneore»Codiln High Court at Trivandrum.'' ViSille members from Travanoore supported the b ill, those from Cochin opposed the blfureatlc») of the High Court. The debates on this bill and the voting that followed vere purely from a regional angle. The Speaker

Mr. K .P . Rr^f^lakanta Filial (Travancore) overruled the objection of the Finance Minister, P.O . Menon (Co«hln) that the bill Involved expenditure from the consolidated fund and jns sudi the House had no jurisdiction to dl.?cuss It . The Finance Ml l?ter demanded a poll vAian a majority of the meiibersy including some minlatersi voted for granting •1 0 4 .

87 poraission to Intrcdnee the bill.

During the next se'^slon oi the ftsr^enblyy the Bover of thr bill sought leave of the House to refer It to a Select Committee* illthough several members of the Con^rrf^aa Party suprorted the bill during Its first rending I they aubaenuantly opposed ^ e motion to refer the bill to a Select Coamlttee as the leader of t^e

Congress Party In the legislature prcnalsed to bring a slmllaT' bill mzlng this next session. The motion to refer the bill to a Select Coemittee vas therefore- put to vote and lost. The Qovemoent did not introduee any bill on this subject during the next session*

Ccnfidenet notion defeated

Hr. T.V* Thooas (Coatnunist) tead^^p of the

Oppositiony noved a no*eonfldenee Dotionf and the debate on this Botlon took place Octo ber 30y 1902. The

Lea>l«r of tlie Opposition biased th e gevamment tor Its inability to solve the problens of unenploynent and food shrrtagei and aroused iAiG govenuiAt of using I t s pow ers for Baking party propoganda. Re niso acouted the Police Ministery Mr* T.M. ?rrr>hese of receiving bribes for favouring enployers in industrial disputes, ^ipporting

27. TCLP, Vol. V, No. 7, p. 487 (1.4.1952) -1B5.

the no*eonfid«oce notion Mr. Nataraja Plllal (?f?P) said that the govcrrncnt failed to bring any land- laglslatloof and Doreover, evicted paople^ ^ere allowad to oempy govemnant land by the previous govemiMnty vlth* oat giving tiicni any alternative aeeoenaodatlc^* Re crltlelsad tha govc>maant for the unsat Is fnetory conditions prevail* ing in govemnent ovfied-indnstrlasy and for prohibiting library Institotlona troti pnrdiasing coi»nunlst llten^tnr** froa govamnant grants • Ihls no»confldener notion vas put to vote and lost, 46 aenbers I'Otlng for^ nnd 61 a^alns*^. It. The Comt unlst Party, the KSP, tSie PSP and the voted fbr the Bwtlon, vhlle the Congress and 28 the True voted against It ,

vonsequccit on the withdrawal of the support given by the TTI7C to the OovemDeBt, the Chlrf Minister moved

8 eonfldcDM notion on Septenber 23, ld53« The Ti)IC withdraw its support to the govemmtnt as Its clalo for recognition as a separate "Pradesh Congress" Snelttdlng the Tanll taluks was refused b” the Congress Party.

Opposing the Confidence notion, the major charges brought by the Leader of the Opposition vere the in­ ability of the governnent to solve the econoBie problcns such as food*[portage and uneaploynent, police*firing on people vho demonstrated for Increase in food quota, nnd

28. TCLP, Vol. V II, No. 2, p. 156 (30.10.1952) •186»

corruption in acteilnlitraUrn, Mr. Aohutha Menon (Coo?nunl«t) po3i)t«i "Ht the ®ff»ct of unettplc^aent and co'eouont poverty, IteBjr of thp oppoaltlon oenbers polnte

Aaaessnent of the ochlgvetPta of the opposition

Suming up it can be mentioned that this Dlnlatry during the I?*m(»ith period did not bring any agrarian refom nor did it make such progress in Induatrialisatlon*

The narrow nsjority in the legislature ani the tie with the

TTRC night have prevented it from taking any bold step In 29 thla direction. The opposition suoceedel In rejecting a suppleBeBtary denand brought by the government «hlch enhanced the pension given to an ex»ruler. It vas adaitted by the govemaent that the problem facing the state vims econcmie. The T7FL end the PSI’, the opposition parties In the legislature accuaed the government of its inability to aolve this problem, ^^lle the taxation propoaals v/ere opposedf there were numerous demands for social %relfare activities of the states* The

89. This fact vay admitted by the Congress Party 5n Its election manifeato for 1954. •1 8 7 .

AdBlnlstratlon eritlelfled for heavy •xpendltiirey oormptlmi favourItitnI delay end loabillty to sptfid the money allottad

In the budget, Xaterferene* of police In the affairs of political partiee and assaults on prisoners in lock-upi were the major conplaSlits against Hiat departaent* Stagnation In Indnstrlest (!epres^ Ion In the existing aaror industries providing eBpIoyncntt ‘JSdi as coir, cashevnut and hand. looB, and BlsaanageBeiit of ^ovemnent-o^jaed industries vere frequently pointed out by opposition Qeabers, The large number of labour disputes brou^t before the House by adjouniBflRt motions shovs that there \ma no tranquility on the labour front. The governsent started a r«Ilef f^ohene for coir workers %ft)o were thrm

In giving free education to the children of govemnent enployees was opposed by the PSP and the Cotnunlst

Party, Vlille foraer wanted e

I baekvardSMs* While tiie govenuMUt undertook to meet the expenditure toenrred by private ageneles In the field of edueatloR on teachers uKployed by theBy the PSP and the CoBKunlat Party vented that ISie Publie

5^erriee Coionission aho^ld be the power to select teaehers tor eBployaant in those schools. The govemineBt

MBS reluctant to take the CoiaBninist Party into confidenee and associate its nenbers vith tiie vsrious committees constituted at the localf district and state levels*

In roneltiBicji it nay be said that the ground for opposition was nainly econonic. On their approedi to the edncation problen the parties differed. APPaiDiX K TO CHAPTim VII

VO

Oat« Har«o of M«Dt»«r 8Ubjoet

25«3«58 B.0« Menon (CoBCsuniat) Detention of Mt&t In jail Ngt adaittod Sfl«n»5S R« Canga

28»3,58 K r l ^ o n Heir R«tr«nchfi»nt of teaohora (Con-unlat) Hot ndBiltted

S1»3*8S K.B* Menon (Conmmiat) Betr^nehnont of voilcers Mot mdnittod as infornetibn vas not trao

1*4«52 H«H«OovlBdan Nair Arroat of Trado Union (Cor^linist) uorkora Dlseusaed but the Hoaao edjournad \iithc»it voting

30.6.52 B.G.Kcron (Constaunlst) Prohibitory os?Jer iaaaad by Btfiatrate Not ndoitted 7 .7 .6 2 Adwtha Monon Hunger strike* b / on* peraon (ConiBuriat) Hot a(!taittod • Diaeharge of 28 laboorora from Punaloor Paper Mi11a Not ssdai^ted 16.7,52 - Look-ottt in Chovra Mineral factory Not adsitted 23*7.62 C. Sadasivan Death by atarvation in (Cosinunist) ShertaXai Not admitted -190*

Naeie of Menbor

94.7.8S kehnthti Manon Iitiac of ffl«dicfil feeiliti Rot adaittod

1,11.52 P i t H a i Closing; ^Usm of Tltaniun Faijtopy it frivgindfBB

6.11*52 Latksap sitiiiitlofi Sft PtithalaR Not n<3Bltt«d s .n .a s B. aansa

26.2*53 K dtm ttw i H a n on Murdar of an eststa voi^ar (Coorninist) Hot adoltted q 9 the m ttar vaa sab^jQdioe

3*3.83 H.H.4bdul Kl^dar Catting of eloetplot smppl*^ (COr*-uniat) to ind»'«^tp5^9 and e o n t a ^ labour problae* dis'^usaad • BiotioR put to vote find loat.

6.3*53 Kuojsn ’^adap Difficulties of tfto (TTHC) ODpIograaa of Xn

J2*3r63 Blcc in pplc^ of tapioca Miniatar prociiaad to do oveiyth^rsg possibla, 19.3*53 V. Sroodharan Arrast and Aeseult of (Con^uniat) oertaia paracoa b y polica Not fidnitted •1 9 1 .

Subject

26«3»fi3 M, OopalttB Hair Withdrawal of st^’te eolBs (PSP) Hlaiater pronlaed to do the naedful - The BeBher did not press his tuotioR

9I,3«53 M.R. Oovlndan Hair Prf^ibltory oritp iasuad (CoBKminlat) by n aiagiatrate to stage a draBo "You nade M a Comnaniat'*« Adnitted but the Houae adjoumad befbre voting

88«3«53 K» KUBorc Fillai >\>mation of ^Itad Kerala (Cora^ unist) Hot «d!nit*:«d.