§ MR. O'GRADYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the official statement made in the Bengal Legislative Council that the number of persons sentenced to whipping in the Calcutta police court during the last three years is as follows: 1905, 376; 1906, 321; and 1907, 402; whether he will inform the House in how many cases of political offences the punishment of whipping has been inflicted; and whether, in view of the fact that the increase of punishment by whipping has taken place while Mr. Kingsford has held the office of chief magistrate, steps will be taken to limit or abolish such form of degrading punishment.
§ MR. MORLEYI have seen the statement quoted. Under the existing law political offences are not punishable by whipping, so far as adults are concerned, and the Bill to amend the Whipping Act, which has been introduced 1302 into the Viceroy s Legislative Council, exempts juveniles also.