HC Deb 07 November 1893 vol 18 cc333-4
MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the exposure of a system of trafficking in young girls at Calcutta for immoral purposes; whether his attention has been specially drawn to the trial of one of those cases before Justice Pigot, at which it was proved that a girl, whose age was variously reckoned from nine to 11 years, was offered for sale for an immoral purpose: whether he is aware that, by the Indian Criminal Code, it is decreed that the sale of a minor "for any unlawful or immoral purpose" is a punishable offence, but that it was decided by Justice Pigot that this case did not come under the provisions of the Code, because "the commission of one immoral act is not contemplated under this section;" and whether the Government will lend the necessary facilities to have the decision reviewed by the Court of Appeal?

* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. GEORGE RUSSELL,) North Beds.

As soon as my hon. Friend sent me the article in The Sentinel on the subject of the matters referred to in the question, and the Report of Mr. Justice Pigot's construction of Section 372 of the Indian Penal Code therein contained, I called the attention of the Secretary of State to the matter. In the absence of accurate information as to the facts of the case, and as to the grounds on which Mr. Justice Pigot's judgment may have been based, it is impossible for the Secretary of State to form any opinion on the matter. Under the law of India there is no appeal against acquittal or conviction by the High Court; but the attention of the Viceroy was called to the case last month, and we await his reply.

MR. S. SMITH

May I ask my hon. Friend if he is aware that this decision has in a great measure paralysed the law, and made convictions for these offences impossible?

MR. SNAPE (Lancashire, S.E., Heywood)

When the information is obtained from the Indian Government will it be laid on the Table of the House?

MR. GEORGE RUSSELL

I do not think there will be any difficulty as to that. I have already promised to communicate with my hon. Friend the Member for Flintshire.