ELECTIONS (CANDIDATES). (Hansard, 2 August 1923)

§ 66. Colonel WEDGWOOD
asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has recommended that candidates in the forthcoming Indian elections should not 1713 be debarred from being candidates by reason of the fact that they have been in prison for more than six months; and, if so, what action His Majesty's Government propose to take to meet the wishes of the Viceroy?

§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)
The Government of India have made proposals for the modification of the rule in question which are not precisely of the character suggested by the hon. and gallant Member. My Noble Friend, who has sought the advice of the Standing Joint Committee on Indian Affairs, has decided that an amendment in the sense proposed ought not in any case to be made without an affirmative resolution of both Houses, according to the proviso to Section 129A of the Government of India Act. He is, therefore, reserving the matter for further consideration, with a view to deciding what recommendation, if any, should be made to Parliament when it reassembles.

§ Colonel WEDGWOOD
May I ask why the Secretary of State referred this matter of the alteration of the Rules to the Standing Joint Committee, when he did not so refer the alteration of the Rules abolishing the residential qualification?

§ Earl WINTERTON
My Noble Friend referred this question to the Standing Joint Committee, because he thought that the alteration proposed was one of principle, and, therefore, it was in accord with what was laid down, both in the Act and in the Rules, that he should refer it to the Standing Joint Committee in order that he might have the advantage of their opinion upon it.

§ Colonel WEDGWOOD
Do I understand that it would be impossible for Pandit Motilal Nehru and C. R. Das to stand for the coming election in India?

§ Earl WINTERTON
The hon. and gallant Gentleman must put down a question if he wants an answer on a specific case. I cannot state off-hand what is the position of these people; the hon. and gallant Gentleman is probably more familiar with it than I am.