§ *MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the decision of the Government in the case of the Jasdan succession was arrived at prior to, or after, presentation of a memorial against change of the immemorial custom of succession by the sons and grandchildren of the late Chief of Jasdan; whether any memorial has been presented by the Kathi community generally praying the Government not to interfere with the immemorial customs of the tribe by enforcing the rule of primogeniture; and what reasons, if any, were given in the Government's reply to such memorial for the introduction of primogeniture.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BUCHANAN,) Perthshire, E.The memorial to the Secretary of State in Council of the sons and grandsons of the late Chief of Jasdan was not submitted till after the installation of the present Chief. A number of memorials from Kathi Chiefs and others against enforcement of the rule of primogeniture are now under the consideration of the Secretary of State in Council.