§ MR. O'DONNELLasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that, on the departure of Mr. Marsden, Chief Magistrate of Calcutta, on leave of absence, Mr. B. L. Gupta, the magistrate next in rank, was not appointed to act in Mr. Marsden's absence, but was passed over in favour of an English barrister, Mr. Henderson; whether it is true that Mr. B. L. Gupta was called to the Bar in 1871, is a civilian of eleven years' standing, and has been Presidency Magistrate for more than two years; whether it is true that Mr. Henderson was only called to the Bar in 1876, and was never in Government service; and, whether this appointment is in conformity with the Government un- 1919 dertaking towards the Native Indian Civil Servants of the Crown?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONMy attention has been called by the Question of the hon. Member to this appointment. The positions of Mr. Gupta and Mr. Henderson appear to be accurately stated in the Question; but I have no information as to the circumstances under which the appointment was made, and I have no reason to suppose that in making it any injury to the Native Indian Civil Servants of the Crown was either done or intended to be done. The appointment is one not of a class to which members of the Covenanted Civil Service have any special claim. The vacancy was only for three months, and for such a short period I am informed that there is always a difficulty in providing satisfactorily for carrying on the duties of the office. I have no reason to doubt that the Lieutenant Governor made the best arrangement he could under the circumstances.