§ 7. Mr. HICKSasked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Government of India to drop the Delhi conspiracy case, in which, the 14 prisoners were charged with conspiracy to commit murder, dacoity, manufacture explosives, and obtain illegal possession of arms; whether he is aware that this case had been proceeding for more than 21 months and not half the witnesses for the prosecution had been examined, the first witness taking seven months; that the Government of India estimate that the hearing of all their witnesses would take four years and the whole case five years, at an annual cost of £26,000 to the Indian revenues; and whether he will take steps to have the procedure in the Indian criminal courts expedited in the interests 606 both of justice and of economy to the Indian exchequer?
§ Sir S. HOAREYes, Sir. It was decided to drop the general conspiracy charge, but to proceed against certain of the accused individually on specific charges. I can assure the hon. Member that I have for some time been gravely concerned at the length of these trials, but the problem is exceedingly complicated.
§ Mr. HICKSDo I understand that the right hon. Gentleman is to take steps to expedite these trials—other trials not mentioned in the question?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs I say, I have been gravely exercised by the present state of affairs. The difficulty is the complexity of the Indian statute law. I am in correspondence with the Government of India on the subject. I agree with the lion. Member that the present state of affairs is almost intolerable.