§ Mr. MORRELLasked whether the Indian Press is at liberty to publish a full report of judicial proceedings in cases of alleged offences on the part of the police, or whether, under the new Press Act, or any other recent legislation, the executive government in any of the provinces has warned or prohibited the editors of newspapers from publishing such reports?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)The answer to the first part of the question is "yes," and to the second "no."
§ Mr. MORRELLHas the hon. Member's attention been drawn to the very meagre reports of the recent proceedings in the High Court of the case in which three policemen were convicted of torturing a man to death?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI have not noticed the report of the particular case to which the hon. Member refers. The amount of space 369 given by Indian newspapers to any particular case is a question in the discretion of the editors.
§ Mr. MORRELLCan my hon. Friend obtain a fuller report of this particular and very serious torture case which was heard in the High Courts of Justice?
§ Mr. MONTAGUMy hon. Friend has been so courteous in postponing this question several times that I have been able to make elaborate investigations, and I can find no foundation for the allegation that the newspapers in India are prevented, in any way whatever, from publishing details of the cases to which he refers. If the hon. Member will give me particulars of this particular case I will do my best to obtain further details.