§ SIR H. COTTON (Nottingham, E.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the sentence of transportation for life passed by the Additional Sessions Judge of Tinnevelly on Chidambaram Pillai, on 6th July last, for making seditious speeches, was appealed against; and, if so, whether the appeal is still pending before the High Court of Madras.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BUCHANAN, Perthshire, E.)The appeal of Chidambaram Pillai to the Madras High Court was admitted on 31st July last. The translation of the vernacular record took several weeks, and a further postponement of a fortnight was given on the application of counsel. The hearing began on 6th October, and is being continued de die in diem. Meantime the prisoners are being treated as under trial pending the final order of the High Court.