HC Deb 13 May 1887 vol 314 cc1806-7
SIR ROPER LETHBRIDGE (Kensington, N.)

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the State of Mohrbhanj in Orissa is regarded by the Government of India as British territory; whether the administration of the State during the minority of the present Raja has been put into the hands of an English gentleman, to the exclusion of the relatives of the minor; and, if so, under what authority this has been done; whether the relatives of the minor Raja (including his mother and uncles) have complained of this arrangement as disgraceful to the Raj family, preventing the marriage of its daughters, and causing other serious injury to its dignity; whether one of the uncles of the minor Raja had been entrusted by the late Raja, his brother, with an important administrative charge in the State; and, whether the British Government has allowed any public independent inquiry to be made into the truth of any complaints that may have been made?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)

(1.) No. (2.) Yes; under the authority of the Government, of India. (3.) No such complaints have ever reached the Secretary of State. (4.) Yes; and in this charge he has been continued. (5.) No public inquiry has ever been made.