§ Mr. GEORGE GREENWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will state what vaccination laws are in force in the Punjab; whether such laws prescribe a fine or imprisonment for parents who refuse to obey them; what is the maximum fine or imprisonment that can be imposed; whether a parent can be repeatedly prosecuted in regard to the same child; and whether imprisonment can be ordered without the alternative of paying a fine having been given?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)In the Punjab the Indian Vaccination Act, XIII. of 1880, is in force in the larger towns and in the military cantonments. A parent who neglects without just excuse to obey the order of a magistrate directing him to have his child vaccinated is punishable with fine, which may extend to Rs. 50. If again convicted for breach of a similar order in respect of the same child, he may be sentenced to simple imprisonment up to six months, or to pay a fine not exceeding Rs. 1,000, or to both. For the first offence the offender is not liable to imprisonment except in default of payment of the fine.
§ Mr. G. GREENWOODasked whether the hon. Gentleman is aware that Mr. Jetha Nand, of Multan City, Punjab, a medical practitioner, who has religious and hygienic objections to vaccination, was, in April, 1910, fined Rs.5 by a bench of honorary magistrates for refusing to have his child vaccinated; that this sentence was quashed on appeal to the district magistrate, who, however, himself took action, and fined Mr. Jetha Nand Rs.50; that the Chief Court revised these proceedings and ordered a fresh trial, when the defaulter was sentenced to pay a fine of Rs. 5; that in March, 1912, Mr. Jetha Nand was sentenced to fifteen days' imprisonment by District Magistrate Narendra Nath; that the signed order of the latter's decision says he kept the case with himself, as honorary magistrates have so far only trifled with these proceedings; whether he is aware that, whilst serving such terra of imprisonment, Mr. Jetha Nand was himself forcibly held down by several men and vaccinated, although he 1266 had already suffered from small-pox, and showed marks on his body to the prison authorities in proof thereof; and whether such proceedings are sanctioned by the Government of India and by the Chief Secretary?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Blackburn.