§ 33. Mr. BROCKWAY (for Miss LEE)asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Lahore prisoners who were recently executed were tried with a jury; and, if not, whether he will secure such amendment of the Indian criminal procedure as will give the accused in such cases the right to be tried before a jury of his own countrymen?
§ Mr. BENNNo, Sir. The accused in the Lahore conspiracy case were tried by a special tribunal of High Court judges, constituted under a special Ordinance promulgated by the Governor-General. I am not prepared to take any action as suggested in the second part of the question.
§ Mr. BROCKWAYWould the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to consider, in view of the desirability of having popular authority behind these verdicts, the use of juries in all trials of this nature?