§ 6. Mr. KELLYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to a case in the Calcutta High Court, brought against Mr. Anuja Charan Sen Gupta, editor of "Hindu Sangha," a vernacular weekly 1720 newspaper, who had been convicted of sedition by the Chief Presidency Magistrate and fined Rs.250; whether he is aware that the High Court Judges gave it as their opinion that with one exception the points raised were of little importance, and that, while finding the editor technically guilty, they remarked that the Government would have been well advised in treating the matter with the contempt it deserved; and whether the Secretary of State and the Government of India will give instructions that such utterances in obscure newspapers shall not in future be magnified into subjects suitable for prosecution under charges of sedition?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have seen a report in the Press of the appeals brought by the editor of the "Hindu Sangha" against two convictions by the Chief Presidency Magistrate. Both convictions were upheld by the High Court, though in regard to one of them one of the Judges expressed opinions much as stated in the hon. Member's question. As regards the last part of the question, my Noble Friend is not prepared to interfere with the discretion of the local authorities.
§ Mr. KELLYWill the Noble Lord give consideration to the fact that it is a danger and not an advantage to this country to magnify what are called offences?
§ Earl WINTERTONI do not admit for a moment that these offences have been magnified. The question is purely one within the competence of the local Government.