§ SIR W. WEDDERBURN (Banffshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to a notification, dated 9th December, 1892, in The Sindh Official Gazette, under which an educational qualification, including a knowledge of English, is required from Hindu candidates for Government Service, while a lower qualification, not including a knowledge of English, is required from Mahomedan candidates; whether such difference of treatment, depending on difference of creed, is in accordance with the requirement of the Queen's Proclamation of 1858; and whether he will disallow this notification as being inconsistent with such requirement?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERMy attention has been called to the notification to which my hon. Friend refers. I am not prepared upon such information as I have received to express any opinion as to this particular case, but I will bring it under the notice of the Government of India.
§ SIR W. WEDDERBURNWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry from the Government of India as to whether similar notifications have been issued in other parts of India infringing religious impartiality?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERI am not prepared to order an inquiry. I think, if such a notification is carried out, it would be unfair, as it would seem to bear the complexion of religious partiality in favour of one portion of Her Majesty's subjects.