§ MR. WEIRTo ask the Secretary of State for India, having regard to the fact that the Natu Brothers, of Poona, were arrested in July, 1897, on suspicion of being concerned in a murder case, and kept in prison for a period of two years without being brought to trial, will he consider the expediency of introducing legislation such as will extend to His Majesty's subjects in India the right to be brought to trial within a reasonable period after arrest.
(Answer.) The Regulation 25 of 1827, under which the Natu brothers were detained, is only applicable to the special class of cases set forth in that Regulation; and I do not propose to recommend any fresh legislation for the Amendment of that Regulation.—(India Office.)