§ MR. CROSFIELD (Lincoln)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that in a large number of criminal appeals preferred by convicts in the Central Gaol, Salem, to the Headquarters' Deputy Magistrate of Salem since January, 1893, the results of the appeals were not communicated to the gaol authorities until after the re- 14 lease of the several appellants from gaol, on the expiration of their respective terms of imprisonment, and that in certain cases convicts were detained in prison beyond the period of their sentence pending the disposal of their appeal; whether, notwithstanding that precise details as to these cases, collected from official documents, had been published in the local papers; that formal complaints had been made to the authorities by the superintendent of the Central Gaol, Salem, and the Government Visiting Committee; and that Petitions had been presented to Government from the leading citizens, both European and Indian, yet the senior Member of Council stated on the 9th of April, in reply loan inquiry by the Hon. Rangaiya Nayuda, in the Madras Legislative Council, that the Government had no information on these matters; and whether he will call for full information on the subject, and take steps, if the facts are as stated, to prevent further miscarriage of justice of this kind, and take proper notice of the conduct of all parties responsible for what has occurred.
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERI have no information beyond what is contained in the answer given to Mr. Rangaiya Nayuda's question on this subject in the Madras Council. As Mr. Bliss (the executive member of Council) stated that the Government of Madras had no information on the subject, I have no doubt that that was the real state of the case. Mr. Bliss further stated that if any person had any cause for complaint he should address the Local Government by petition, and this seems to me, as at present advised, to have been a proper and sufficient reply. I may add that a gaol authority would not be justified in detaining a prisoner beyond the term specified in his warrant merely because his appeal had not been disposed of.
§ MR. CROSFIELDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will consider a document which I will place in his hands, and which will show that Petitions have been presented and not been considered?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERI shall be happy to consider any document my hon. Friend may place in my hands, but I would point out that in a matter of this description application should be made 15 in the first instance to the Madras Government, and then, if injustice were done, to the Home Government.