§ 7. Mr. BERNAYSasked the Secretary of State for India if he can now state the results of the inquiry into the Lahore execution on 21st November?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe investigation has shown that the order postponing the execution was delivered at the gaol at 11 on the morning of the day before the execution took place, but, owing to the failure of the clerk in the Punjab Government Secretariat who dispatched the order to indicate on the envelope either the nature of its contents or its urgency, the order was not placed before the goal superintendent until 10 o'clock next morning, after the execution had been carried out. The Superintendent of the Judicial Branch of the Secretariat also failed in his duty to see that an acknowledgment of the receipt of the order of postponement had been duly received from the superintendent of the gaol before the time fixed for the execution. Disciplinary action has been taken against both the dispatcher and the Superintendent of the Judicial Branch of the Secretariat. Steps are being taken to examine in all provinces the procedure in regard to orders of stay of executions with a view to making any recurrence of such a mistake impossible.
§ Mr. BERNAYSWill the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the Government of India that communications of this kind should in future be conducted by telegram to prevent such a terrible calamity happening again?
§ Sir S. HOAREThat is the kind of question which is now being considered between the Government of India and His Majesty's Government.