§ MR. GINNELL (Westmeath, N.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether Members of this House will be supplied at the earliest possible date with the text of the new Indian Law 2120 of Summary Justice, together with such Memorandum or portions of other laws as may be necessary to elucidate it, and, in the case of editors and other persons punished under this new law for language written or spoken, with the text of the incriminated words used and statements of the punishments inflicted.
§ MR. BUCHANANThe hon. Member has no doubt received a copy of the Act; the Indian Codes to which it refers are to be found in the Library. As I have already stated, the Act deals with murderous outrages end kindred offences, and not with seditious writings or speeches.
§ MR. MACKARNESSMay I ask whether under this law a prisoner charged, say, with murder is liable to have all the preliminary proceedings conducted in secrecy and without his advocate having an opportunity of cross-examining the witnesses.?
§ MR. BUCHANANThe hon. Gentleman can get an answer to that Question by going to the Vote Office.
§ MR. MACKARNESSBut am I right that that is the case?
§ [No Answer was returned.]