§ Mr. OLIVERasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will cause an inquiry to be held in the case of Mr. S. H. Counsell an ex-deputy magistrate and deputy collector in the province of Bengal, who was removed from his office without an inquiry and subsequently relegated to a subordinate clerkship from which he was compulsorily retired, before the full term of his service, on a small pension, although his earlier promotion was ordered on the ground of merit by the Judicial Secretary to the Government of Bengal?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe dismissal of a provincial service officer not appointed by 967W the Secretary of State in Council is a matter within the power of the authorities in India and no appeal against their decision lies to the Secretary of State. This is not therefore a matter in which my Noble Friend would be prepared to intervene unless there has been some breach of the rules made by him under the Government of India Act. As regards the allegation that no inquiry was held in Mr. Counsell's case, the Government of India will be asked to report.