§ 4. Mr. SCURRasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that village munsiffs of South India are part-time officers of the Government but are treated as non-officials for purposes of election to local boards and to the Legislative Council; and whether he will inquire into this matter, in view of the importance of having non-official members of elected bodies free from Governmental influence?
§ Mr. RICHARDSIt is not within the power of my Noble Friend to interfere with the regulations made by local Governments defining eligibility for membership of local bodies, as this matter appertains to a transferred provincial subject. As regards Legislative Councils, part-time Government servants are declared by a rule under the Government of India Act to be non-officials for the purposes of that Act, and I see no sufficient reason for altering that rule.