§ 70. Sir J. D. REESasked the Under-Secretary for India whether any further arrests have been made or action taken in regard to the murder of Inspector Ghose; and whether the Secretary of State will intimate to the Government of India that such a case as that of the accused Roy should have been sent for trial to the special tribunal of the High Court and not to the Criminal Sessions, 445 at which it is matter of notoriety that there is little chance of obtaining a verdict against a Bengali youth who claims to be a politician?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSNo further action has been reported. The Secretary of State has no intention of interfering with the discretion as to the mode of trial left, by the terms of the law in question, to the Governor-General in Council and to the local Government acting with the sanction of the Governor-General in Council.
Sir J. D. PEESMay I ask whether the Secretary of State is not aware that there is a widespread opinion that a grievous error of judgment was made in this matter?
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEOn a point of Order. May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether it is in order to put in the form of a question a grave reflection upon the impartiality of the Criminal Sessions Court of Bengal?
§ Sir J. D. REESIt refers to the Government and not to the Court in any way.
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSI cannot make any reference to the point of Order raised. I am not responsible for the form of the question. I am only responsible for my own answer.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEI wish, Mr. Speaker, to ask your ruling on the point I have raised.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe part of the question to which the hon. Gentleman objects is that the accused "should have been sent for trial to the special tribunal of the High Court, and not to the criminal sessions at which it is matter of notoriety that there is little chance of obtaining a verdict against a Bengali youth who claims to be a politician." I think it would have been better if these words had not appeared on the Paper.