DISMISSAL OF SURGEONS ON THE BENGAL ESTABLISHMENT. (Hansard, 16 May 1890)

§ MR. BRADLAUGH

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State's attention has been drawn to the circumstances under which Kali Krishna BaÉgchi and two other surgeons on the Bengal Establishment have been dismissed from the Service; whether it is the fact that, in accordance with the rule governing the promotion of assistant surgeons, Kali Krishna BaÉgchi, after 14 years most satisfactory service, applied for examination at the septennial examination in Calcutta, in May last, and two other assistant surgeons, after a lesser term of service, applied for like examination; such examination took place, and all were declared to have satisfied the examiners; that the Inspector General of Hospitals addressed questions to the principal of the Medical College, and received assurances that every safeguard against foul play had been taken, and the examination conducted under adequate supervision; that, nevertheless, the Inspector General called upon Kali Krishna BaÉgchi and two others to undergo a supplementary examination prepared by himself; whether this course was in direct contradiction to the Regulations affecting medical examinations in India, the Examining Board alone having power to examine medical officers; whether Kali Krishna BaÉgchi and two others, having, on the ground that the proceedings were an imputation on their honour, and contrary to the Regulations, refused to 1119 submit themselves to the supplementary examination, were summarily dismissed for wilful disobedience of orders; whether the Head of a Department can thus summarily dismiss officers against whom no charges of misconduct are made or in-inquired into, in view of the fact that the Rules of the Government Service in India state that Indian Subordinates are not to be dismissed merely in consequence of unfavourable opinions entertained towards them by their superiors, or for slight reasons, but on proof only of tangible delinquency in such matters as fraud and dishonesty, continued and wilful negligence, and all offences involving worse disgrace; and whether he will give instructions that the order for the dismissal of these officers shall be cancelled, and will direct an inquiry to be instituted into the whole circumstances, in which full opportunity will be given to the officers concerned to answer any charges which may have been brought against them?