MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the following recent cases: The case of Empress v. Maharaj and another, in which the defendants were convicted of theft, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fine by Mr. Marr, Joint Magistrate of Begu Sacrai; the case of Dr. Kuniram Ghose, who was convicted by the Magistrate of Murshidabad for an alleged act of negligence in his professional capacity, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fine; 330 the case of Mr. Augier, Sub-Deputy Magistrate of Pwrulia, who was sentenced to imprisonment for six months in a case relating to a female coolie; whether he is aware that in each of these cases the High Court of Calcutta set aside the conviction, declaring that no offence had been proved; and, whether, in view of these facts, he will consider the desirability of introducing a change in the present system of criminal administration in India, by which the district magistrate is the head of the police, the virtual prosecutor, and at the same time the chief magistrate in his district.
§ LORD G. HAMILTONI have no information in regard to the three cases referred to in the honourable Member's question. I do not think that the orders of the High Court, so far as their terms are stated in the question, would justify me in requesting the Government of India to consider the advisability of introducing a revolutionary change in the present system of criminal administration in India.