§ 6. Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the district magistrate of 454 Surat has issued a notice calling upon members of the public who are in possession of funds of the Indian National Congress to surender them to the Government, and warning them that if any member of the public is found with such funds after the last day of November he will be liable to prosecution in addition to forfeiture of the funds; and whether he will state under what ordinance or regulation the Indian National Congress, or any of its agents, are prevented from possessing funds?
§ Sir S. HOAREI understand that the notice relates not to the funds of the Indian National Congress but to those of local Congress activities which have been declared unlawful. As regards the second part of the question funds which are being used or are intended to be used for the purposes of an unlawful association may be declared forfeit under Section 63 of the Special Powers Ordinance. A prosecution would lie under Section 17 (1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908, against any person assisting the activities of an unlawful association by administering its funds. The Indian National Congress as such has not been declared unlawful.