HC Deb 19 February 1903 vol 118 cc271-2
MR. CAINE

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will grant a Return showing the Indian Princes and chiefs who have been deposed on the ground of maladministration or misconduct since Lord Canning's Adoption Proclamation of 1858, stating with what procedure, judicial or otherwise, the inquiry preceding their deposition was conducted; and whether his attention has been drawn to the Resolution of the Indian National Congress praying that no Indian prince or chief should be deposed on the ground of maladministration or misconduct until the fact of such maladministration or misconduct should have been established to the satisfaction of a public tribunal which shall command the confidence alike of Government and of the Indian princes and chiefs; and will he state what action he proposes to take in the matter?

(Answered by Secretary Lord George Hamiltion.) Only six cases have occurred of native Indian chiefs being deposed since 1858. In respect of three of these, viz., Baroda (1875), Manipur (1891), and Jhalawar (1896), Papers have been presented to Parliament. In the other three cases the procedure was as follows: (1) suket (1878); Report of political officer appointed to inquire into a rebellion caused by the Raja's maladministration. (2) Bharatpur (1900); Report of political officer appointed to inquire into a murder committed by the Maharaja, (3) Panna (1902); Report of Special Commission appointed to inquire into charges against the Maharaja of complicity in a murder. I did not observe any reference to the subject in the Resolutions, as reported in the Press, of the last meeting of the Indian National Congress, and I see no reason to take any action in the matter.