5. Mr. ALAN SYKESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the most highly paid appointments in the Indian Police, that of inspectors-general of police, are, except in the Punjab and the United Provinces, permanently reserved for members of the Indian Civil Service; is he aware that these civilian inspectors-general have no practical experience of police work, that they only hold these appointments for three or five years as stepping-stones to higher appointments, and that they supersede officers of twenty-five to thirty years' practical experience in the police services; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. C. Roberts)The hon. Member is mistaken, as all local Governments have full discretion to fill the post of inspector-general either from the Indian Civil Service or from the police, as may seem most expedient. He will find this ruling, and the reasons for it, in Parliamentary Paper, Cd. 2478 of 1905.
§ Mr. ROBERTSNumerically at the present time there are more Indian Civil servants, but there is full discretion in the matter in the hands of the local Government.
Mr. SYKESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is general dissatisfaction among police officers, because they are under the impression that they are not getting their fair share?
§ Mr. ROBERTSI cannot interfere with the discretion of the local Government in a matter of the kind.