§ SIR HENRY COTTON (Nottingham, E.)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that on 8th January an appeal was heard before the High Court of Calcutta from the order of the district judge of Mozufferpore who, differing from the opinion of both of the assessors in a murder case, had passed a sentence of death; that the counsel who appeared for the condemned man was stopped by the Court before he had finished his argument; that the Crown Prosecutor then said that he could not support the conviction as the sessions judge had implicitly believed the defence story, and that therefore the prosecution was bound to fail; that judgment was then reserved; that on 14th January the court dismissed the appeal and confirmed the sentence of death; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) I have seen a report to the effect stated in the newspapers. I will make inquiry as to its accuracy. I must remind my hon. friend that the Secretary of State has no power to revise the judgments of the High Court.