§ MR. O'GRADY (Leeds, E.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State 941 for India if he will state the reason that the trial of the men arrested in connection with the bomb outrage has been transferred from the Sessions Court at Calcutta, where the trial would have been presided over by a puisne Judge, to the Court of the district magistrate at Alipur, in the suburbs; and whether the Judge in the latter Court is a member of the Civil Service, combining in his position executive and judicial functions.
§ MR. BUCHANANThe preliminary inquiry is being conducted at Alipur because the offence was committed within the jurisdiction of the magistrate of the twenty-four parganas. If the accused are committed to the Sessions they will be tried there by a Judge who, though a member of the Civil Service, does not combine in his person executive and judicial functions, and if convicted by him they will have open to them an appeal to the High Court.