§ 9. Mr. THURTLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India is placing any obstacles in the way of the Maharani, the wife of the ex-Maharaja of Nabha, and her children joining her husband during his enforced internment without trial?
§ Earl WINTERTONI would refer the hon. Member to the Debate on the Motion for the Adjournment on the 19th April last, in the course of which I stated that the Government of India had passed no Orders enjoining on the ex-Maharaja separation from his wife and children.
§ Mr. THURTLEDoes that bear the ordinary interpretation that no obstacles are being placed in the way of her joining her husband?
§ Earl WINTERTONI am not prepared to say that no obstacle is placed in the 2045 way. There is no legal ban on the ex-Maharani joining her husband if she wishes to do so.
§ Mr. THURTLEIf there are obstacles, can the Noble Lord say what is their nature?
§ Earl WINTERTONIt would be impossible to do that within the limits of a Parliamentary answer, but I think that the ex-Maharani has had advice from various quarters as to the inadvisability of returning to her husband.