HL Deb 13 August 1877 vol 236 cc811-3
LORD CAMPBELL

presented a Petition from Malloojee Devajee and others, kinsmen of the Chief of Palitana, in the Province of Kattyawar, under the Presidency of Bombay, complaining of certain grievances, and praying for redress. The noble Lord said: There exists a just and very general impression that no new topic, at a period of the Session so advanced, ought to be brought forward, unless practically urgent. Partaking fully that impression, I present a Petition from certain kinsmen of the Chief of Palitana, in the Province of Kattyawar, under the Presidency of Bombay. It may be held that from time to time Indian complaints are in need of Parliamentary attention owing to the magnitude of our dominion, without reflecting on the Viceroy or the Secretary of State, or the enlightened Council who support him. The allegations of the Petitioners are that the Chief of Palitana has imposed a new tax upon his kinsmen; that he has illegally appropriated a number of their villages; that he has imprisoned by force the families of those who have resisted him. With regard to the first point, an official document informs me that the Indian Department have judged the tax to be a legal one; but as the decision was arrived at during the absence of the noble Marquess the Secretary of State at Constantinople, it might, on that ground, deserve re-consideration. With regard to the second point, the Bombay Government were adverse to the Petitioners. But a conclusion of the same kind, on the part of the Bombay Government some years ago, was overruled by Lord Halifax, at that time Secretary of State. As to the third charge—namely, that of exposing unoffending subjects of Her Majesty to all the hardships of a prison, the noble Marquess will, no doubt, either explain, or put an end to such a situation. I have nothing more to add, except that the mode in which the subject was presented to me would have induced any other noble Lord to bring it equally forward, however great the inconvenience of coming here to-day, or of attending to the facts which I have shortly brought before your Lordships.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

said, his noble Friend was quite justified in stating that Parliament always narrowly watched the acts of the Government and the India Office, if ever they were tempted to neglect to act with justice towards those under their charge. There had been no omission, no negligence, on the part of the India Office, in respect of this matter. When he was at the India Office, in 1866, the affairs of this Chief were under consideration of the Council, and when he came back, in 1874, he found they were still under consideration. Tor some 16 or 17 years this case had been, in one way or other, before the Indian Government; it had been heard in every conceivable form, and the most enlightened Political Agents had given it their careful attention. It had been duly tried and decided, so far as the jurisprudence prevailing in that part of the country would permit. Palitana was not within Her Majesty's dominions, but was a comparatively small and insignificant State, and the conduct of this State was more or less roughly supervised by political officers acting under the Government of Bombay. A claim was made for certain dues; and whether these claims were due or not, was a matter which had been a frequent subject of inquiry. Both Colonel Anderson and Mr. Peile, after careful and prolonged investigation, without any doubt or hesitation, gave a decision against these Petitioners, and in favour of the Chief; and, on appeal, it was confirmed by the Government of Bombay and afterwards by the Secretary of State. It did not appear that anything further could be done. The other point mentioned by his noble Friend appeared to rest on no solid foundation. It was said that the detention of these persons in prison was a very tyrannical act; and it was quite true that he had imprisoned certain people; but it should be remembered that the persons in question had resisted the Chief's authority, and had shot some of his soldiers. For that offence they were tried and imprisoned. Statements were made to the Government of Bombay and the Home Government that the treatment of these persons in prison was not seemly or humane; whereupon a Government officer was sent down to see what that treatment was. His report was that the treatment was proper and humane, and there was no reason to complain of it. Another statement made was that their homes had been destroyed and their female relatives maltreated.; but on inquiry being made those ladies said that they had only two grievances—one of which was that they wanted some new clothes, and that their dinner was not always served in time. He could, however, assure his noble Friend that the greatest attention had been given to the investigation of the ease. The Home Government had come to the conclusion that the Indian Government had acted justly, and there was no ground of grievance which these persons could allege against the treatment which they had received. His noble Friend would agree with him that it would not be desirable to re-try this case.