ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN INDIA —QUESTION.

HC Deb 13 June 1856 vol 142 cc1409-11

On the Motion that the House resolve itself into Committee of Supply,

MR. J. G. PHILLIMORE

said, he wished to call the attention of the House to a petition from the Members of the Bengal Indigo Planters' Association, complaining of the abuses and delay in the administration of justice in the Company's Courts. The petitioners, not natives, but English subjects, complained of the worth-lessness of the Local Courts for the enforcement of civil obligations, of the corruption and venality of the police, which was regarded by the people as an instrument of oppression and cruelty; they stated that young men were employed in the judicial capacity without training or knowledge of the language; that the Local Courts were a scourge to the Country. Yet, that no remedy for those evils had been pointed out by the Commissioners, who had recently reported upon these matters; but that they had even proposed to transfer to those Courts a portion of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Courts. In addition to all this, it had now been proved that torture was habitually practised under the sanction of the minister of English justice. When the Indian budget was brought forward he should enter at greater length into the abuses connected with the administration of justice in India.

SIR E. PERRY

said, he could assure the House that the petitions presented by his hon. and learned Friend came from a most important body of men. He wished to take that opportunity of asking the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Control when he intended to bring forward the Indian budget, so as to enable the matters referred to in that petition to be discussed? He also wished for information as to the power of the East India Company to grant pensions of magnitude with the authority of the Board of Control. He would also remind the right hon. Gentleman of the Resolutions agreed to last Session, to the effect that it was desirable the Indian budget should be brought forward as early as possible in the Session, so as to enable it to receive that attention which its importance demanded.

MR. VERNON SMITH

said, it was quite true that the House had come to such a Resolution last Session as that alluded to by the hon. and learned Gentleman; but, unluckily, the House, in the present Session, had acted in direct opposition to that Resolution, by discussing all sorts of business before they came to it. He could hold out no hope that he would be able upon an early day, to make the Indian financial statement. He trusted, however, he could do so at an earlier period than last Session. With that view the accounts had been greatly expedited. With regard to the petition just presented by his hon. and learned Friend (Mr. J. G. Phillimore), although the petitioners were no doubt an important body, he did not think that they represented to any considerable extent the feelings of the people of India. His hon. and learned Friend ought, however, to be aware, that it would not be the most convenient way to discuss those matters, to introduce the question upon going into Committee to consider the Indian budget. He hoped that his hon. and learned Friend would alter his determination, and introduce the subject by a substantive Motion. At the same time, he could not permit those statements of the petition to pass without some notice. He quite admitted the existence of a portion of those evils. The Committee of 1853 had inquired into them, and ultimately the judicial administration of India had been referred to a law Commission. Three Reports were presented upon the subject, and were referred, in November last, to persons who were most competent to give an opinion upon them. He expected to receive their opinion shortly, when he might then, perhaps, be able to persuade the House to pass a measure on the subject. As regarded the police, the subject was at that moment under consideration; and the only reason for the Government not acting further with respect to this matter was, that they thought it but just to give the new police system, established in 1852 in the presidency of Bombay, a fair trial. He was in hopes that a better system of police would ultimately be established in that Presidency, and that it would derive much advantage from its operations.

MR. MANGLES

said, he believed that the statements in the petition of the Indigo Planters' Association were greatly exaggerated; and he could add that the Indian Government were honestly and earnestly striving to improve the condition of the people of India in every way.

Motion agreed to.