§ SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN (Banffshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the District Magistrate of Poona and the Commissioner of Police for the Division are the principal officers responsible for peace and good order in the city of Poona; whether both of these officers protested against the imposition of a punitive police; whether the Commissioner was censured for making this protest; and whether the Secretary of State has sanctioned that censure?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAThe District Manager of Poona and the Commissioner of Police for the Division are responsible, like other subordinate officers, to the Government of Bombay for the proper performance of their duties; but, as I have already stated in this House, the Government of Bombay are alone responsible for the decision as to the imposition of a punitive police force. It is not usual, nor, as a rule, expedient to publish the views of subordinate officers, on a due consideration of which the responsible authorities may have had to form their 1097 opinion, but on this occasion I am prepared so far to depart from the established practice as to inform the honourable Member that the allegations contained in his last three Questions are devoid of any foundation.
§ SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURNI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the total cost of the punitive police at Poona is correctly stated at Rs. 115,207; and, if so, whether he will direct the Bombay Government not to levy any amount in excess of that sum?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAI have on three different occasions stated, in reply to questions in this House, that, according to the information in my possession, the cost of the punitive police at Poona is about Rs.960 a month, or Rs.11,500 a year. I believe that information to be correct; but, even if the cost should be in excess of that sum, it will undoubtedly have to be borne by the city of Poona.