§ MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether his attention has been called to the report of a case before Mr. T. M. Kirkwood, Judge of Patna, who in a case of alleged theft, on May 11, 1888, is stated to have subjected the plaintiff, a young Hindoo girl of 12, to a most degrading examination at the hands of a Mahomedan doctor, ostensibly for the sole purpose of testing her veracity; and, whether he will cause inquiries to be made; and, if the reports are confirmed, will take such measures as will effectually prevent the recurrence of such a case?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)Mr. Kirkwood appears to have ordered a girl of 12, who had accused a man of stealing, to be examined. He has been severely censured for this by the High Court of Judicature in Bengal, and the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal has determined to remove him from the Judicial Service. It is stated that Mr. Kirkwood intends to appeal.