§ 8. Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for India if he will state what steps have been taken to carry out the proposals of the Government of India in their letter of the 5th March, 1919, regarding proportionate pensions for officers in India to whom service under the new reform scheme is not congenial, and the 411 recommendation made in Clause 36 of the Report of the Joint Select Committee on the Government of India Bill that members of the Indian Civil Service, whose doubts as to the changes are deeply rooted, should be allowed to retire on such pension as the Secretary of State in Council may consider suitable to their period of service; and when the final notification in the matter will be issued?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIt is not proposed to issue any general notification on the subject. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the explanation which I gave him, with regard to this recommendation, on 4th December last in Committee stage of one Bill. No application for permission to retire on this ground has been brought to my notice.
§ Colonel YATEIs it necessary that the applications should be made first before any notification is issued as to the decision arrived at?
§ Mr. MONTAGUWhat is suggested is that any such application, if there be any, should be considered on its own merits. It would be made in the first instance to the Government of India and forwarded to me with their recommendation.