§ MR. BARLOW (Somersetshire Frome)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been directed to the number of cases awaiting hearing on the original and appellate sides of the High Court of Judicature at Fort William in the Presidency of Bengal, and to the fact that the administration of criminal appeals is such that persons on short terms of imprisonment who have not been released on bail will probably serve their term before their appeals are heard, he can make arrange merits to expedite the administration of justice in that Presidency.
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONIn April last I sanctioned the strengthening of the original side of the High Court at Calcutta by the appointment of an additional Judge with the necessary establishment in order to cope with the arrears 869 of business on that side, and at the same time made suggestions for distributing the business of the Court so as to expedite its disposal on the appellate side. I am not aware that there is any such complaint as is indicated in the Question as to criminal appeals, to which precedence is always given over other business, but I will make enquiries. I may remind the hon. Member that for the last two and a half months the Court has been closed for the vacation.