§ 20. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for India the number of 12 persons sentenced to whipping in each of the provinces of British India during the years 1931 and 1932; and whether whipping is still imposed as a punishment in respect of political offences not involving violence?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Butler)I am circulating the figures for 1931. Those for 1932 are not yet available. As regards the second part of the question there has been no recent alteration in the law. The offences, whether political or otherwise, for which whipping may be inflicted are stated in the Indian Whipping Act, 1909, and the Whipping (Burma Amendment) Act, 1927.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSDoes the hon. Member agree that persons prosecuted for non-violent action should still be subjected to whipping?
§ Following are the figures:
| NUMBER of persons sentenced to whipping in the year 1931. | ||
| Madras | … | 69 |
| Bombay | … | 555 |
| Bengal | … | 270 |
| United Provinces | … | 960 |
| Punjab | … | 437 |
| Bihar and Orissa | … | 133 |
| Central Provinces and Berar | … | 408 |
| Assam | … | 54 |
| North-West Frontier Province | … | 135 |
| Burma | … | 3,168 |