On 11th October 1949, at the Constituent Assembly Shri V. I. Munusamy Pillai [Madras General] spoke as follows;
Sir I beg to move, that in Amendment No. 164 of List III [2nd Week] in the First Proviso the Clause [1] of the proposed New Article 312-F after the words, Scheduled Caste – the word “Scheduled Tribes” be inserted.
In the new Amendment given by Dr. Ambedkar he has made it clear that he included all such caste, race, tribes or groups within caste. It would be more appropriate, if Scheduled Tribes are also included after the words Scheduled Caste in the main Article so that what is said in the new Amendment may be in consonance with the Article itself.
On the same date i.e. 11th October 1949, Dr. Ambedkar spoke as follows;
With regard to Mr. Munusamy Pillai’s Amendment, the new thing he seeks to introduce is provision for Scheduled Tribes. As a matter of fact there is no objection to making provision for the Scheduled Tribes but point is this that at present there is no enumeration of Scheduled Tribes because Scheduled Tribes as such not been recognised under the Government of India Act, 1935. Whatever Tribes are included for the purpose of representation the Government of India Act are called Backward Class. Consequently, if my Friend, Mr. Munusamy Pillai were to leave the matter in the hands of Drafting Committee we shall probably make some suitable arrangement to give effect to his Amendment.
Mr. President: I put the Amendment to vote now.
Mr. President: No. 202
Mr. Munusamy Pillai: I leave to the Drafting Committee, I do not press it
The Amendment was by leave of the Assembly withdrawn.
[The amendment was negative]
Comment: The tribal people are scattered throughout the length and breadth of the Country. All these people may be classified as Scheduled Tribes, who do not come within the meaning of Scheduled Caste. It is an ordinary simple classification. This was not done even after 2 ½ years of the Constitution of the Constituent Assembly.