MR. H. ROBERTS (Denbigshire, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the serious charges made against Moulvi Fazlal Karim, the present sub-divisional officer of Mun-shigunge; whether he is aware that a memorial, signed by 700 of the inhabitants of his district, and praying for a public inquiry into these charges and for the redress of certain serious grievances suffered through the administration of this officer, was presented to Sir John Woodburn, Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, in September 1898; whether, so far, no order has been made upon it by the Government; and whether, in view of the grave allegations made in regard to this officer, he can state what immediate action it is proposed to take with reference to his case?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingI am aware that a memorial containing certain charges against Moulvi Fazlal Karim was presented last year. I have also ascertained that on the 9th of February the Lieutenant-Governor recorded a Resolution accepting the opinion of the Commissioner of the Division, who, after a thorough local inquiry, reported that the memorial contained a series of false charges emanating from persons whom the deputy magistrate had offended in doing his duty. The Moulvi accordingly remains in charge of the subdivision. I propose to take no further action in reference to the case.