§ 16. Miss RATHBONEasked the Secretary of State for India whether the Census Reports for 1931 are sufficiently available for him to supply figures showing whether, and to what extent, the practice of child marriage in India has decreased since the previous Census?
§ Sir S. HOAREI regret that I am not yet ill a position to supply this information.
§ 17 and 18. Miss RATHBONEasked the Secretary of State for India (1) if he will supply figures showing the number of prosecutions that have taken place under the Sarda Act in Restraint of Child Marriage in the years 1930, 1931, and 1932, respectively;
(2) if he can now report the result of his inquiries on the question whether and to what extent the provincial governments are carrying into effect the administrative measures recommended by 727 the Joshi Committee three years ago as being necessary for the successful enforcement of the Sarda Act in Restraint of Child Marriage?
§ 7. Mr. GEORGE HALLasked the Secretary of State for India how many prosecutions have taken place under the Child Marriage Restraint Act, No. 19, of 1929 (the Sarda Act), and with what result?
§ Sir S. HOAREI am not in possession of the figures showing the numbers of prosecutions and convictions under the Sarda Act, but I will obtain them. The result of the inquiries made of local governments regarding the recommendations of the Joshi Committee have not yet been received, but I will inquire how the matter stands.
Miss RATH BONEDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that there has been great dilatoriness on the part of the provincial governments, inasmuch as it is two years since the inquiry was circulated and that a year ago he undertook to remind the provincial governments of it; and, in view of the fact that the Act was passed with the strong approval of the Government at Delhi, as being necessary to remove "a great and corroding evil"—I think those were the words—does he think that the provincial governments are showing enough zeal in seeing to it that the Act is not made a dead letter?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe hon. Lady knows that the Act raises many thorny questions,
| Application of the provisions of the Special Powers Ordinance. | ||
| NOTE.—Sections 64 and 74 to 80 which were extended at once to the whole of British India are not included in the statement below. | ||
| Province. | Powers extended by Governor General in Council. | Area to which they have been applied by Local Government under Section 1 (3). |
| I. | II. | III. |
| Madras | Sections 58 to 63 and 65 to 73. | Whole Presidency:—Sections 58 to 63 and 65 to 73. |
| Bombay | Sections 3 to 63 and 65 to 73 | Bombay City and Bombay Suburban Districts:—Sections 3 to 53, 58 to 63 and 65 to 73. |
| Remainder of Presidency:—Sections 3 to 53, 58 to 63 and 65. | ||
| District of Kanara:—54 to 57. | ||
| Districts of Kaira, Mahi Kantha, Ahmednagar, West Kandesh, East Kandesh, Kanara, Rathnagiri and Karachi:—Sections 66 to 73. |
§ and I think she would not expect me to express an opinion as to the attitude of the provincial governments. I am having compiled for her the information for which she has asked and, as soon as I have it, she will get it.