§ 2. Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that all copies of a book entitled "A Ten Years' History of Orissa" have been declared to be forfeited in India; whether such action has been taken as a matter of executive discretion; and in how many cases this has been done?
§ Mr. BUTLERIf the hon. Member is referring to an Oriya book called "Dasabarasar Orissa," the answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Action was taken under the powers conferred by Section 99A of the Code of Criminal Procedure. I am unable to say in how many cases similar action has been taken.
§ Mr. GRENFELLWhile grateful to the hon. Gentleman for confirming my translation of the title, I would like him to say whether the Government would consider announcing in some form of public document what is permitted to be said and written in India?
§ Mr. BUTLERI think that it would be advisable if the hon. Member would read the Code of Criminal Procedure, in Section 99A of which he will find what is not permitted.
§ Mr. GRENFELLThe point I want to make is that while certain books are prohibited, we do not know what is permitted.
§ 6. Mr. SORENSENasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the High Court in Indic, has recently pronounced that copies of the Communist manifesto of Karl Marx, or translations of it or both, are to be forfeited under Sections 124A and 153A 1399 of the Indian Penal Code; and what steps it is proposed to take to amend the law to render the possession of such works as the Communist manifesto not a crime?
§ Mr. BUTLERI am aware that the Allahabad High Court in a recent judgment upheld the validity of the orders passed by the Government of the United Provinces declaring copies of this Communist manifesto to be forfeited. There is no intention of amending the law in the direction suggested.
§ Mr. SORENSENDoes not the hon. Gentleman personally feel how absurd it is to allow copies of the Communist manifesto to circulate in this country without dire results, while condemning it when it is circulated in India?
§ Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSDoes the literature of the Anti-Socialist Union circulate in Moscow?
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs any reference to Magna Carta prohibited in India?
§ Mr. THORNEIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that this is the only safety valve for the people of India?
§ Commander LOCKER - LAMPSONWas not this book written in England, and if it has not succeeded in affecting the English people, can it do much damage in India?