I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction expressed in Calcutta at the action of the Lieutenant-Governor in secretly maintaining with public funds a private action for libel instituted by certain police officers against the IndianDaily News; and whether, for the future guidance of Governors and Lieutenant-Governors in India, he will issue general instructions that where accusations are made against the police or other Government servants the Government shall itself proceed against the accusers, or shall itself take other public measures to investigate the accusation, but that in no case shall the money of the Indian taxpayer be employed for the secret maintenance of private libel actions.

My attention has been drawn to the published reports of the case referred to. As I have already explained in previous Answers, the Government of Bengal acted in accordance with the ordinary rules, and I am not aware that there was any special secrecy in the matter. The question whether Government should allow its officers to take action in vindication of their official conduct, or should adopt the much more formidable course of taking action itself, must be decided on a consideration of all the circumstances of each case as it arises, and I do not propose to lay down any general rule. I may remind my hon. friend that the cost falls on the taxpayer whichever course is adopted.