The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-14 00:00:00

CASE OF BHAWANNY LALLA H.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved for a re!
return of the appointments held by Mr. Thomas in the
civil service of the East India Company in the month of
September 1854, and of the appointments he may have
sires held up to the date of the latestaccounts, distinguish-
ing judicial from other appointments ; and also fur copies
of any correspondence that may have taken place between
the Governor or other superior authorities at Madras
and Mr. Thomas relative to the case of " Bhawanny
Lallah v. Thomas," and to the judgment delivered
thereupon in the Supreme Court of Madras by Chief Jus-
tice Sir Christopher Rawlinson. The noble earl pro-
ceeded to observe that the case he was about to submit
to their lordships was a case of great tyranny
and oppression. It appeared that upon some unfounded
charge, Bliawanny Lallah, a merchant of great worth
and respectability, was arrested at the instance of Mr.
Thomas, in 1854, and for 14 days was marched
backwards and forwards in charge of a con-
stable, without any charge being made. In fact, for
upwards of 17 days this Indian gentleman was kept in
confinement, and was exposed to much suffering,
without ever being brought to trial, or declared
to be guilty of any specific charge. He afterwards
instituted legal proceedings against Thomas, and gained
a verdict with damages to the amount of 1,000 rupees;
but a point was reserved for the consideration of a supe-
rior court. That judgment had been afterwards set
aside, and up to the present moment this much-injured
gentleman had been unable to gain any redress for the
indignities and injury to which he had been sub-
jected. (Hear, hear.) These being the facts of the
case he had thought it his duty to draw their lordships'
a,tention to the circumstance. He had been told that
Mr. Thomas had been dismi-sed from the service, and he
should be glad if such was the fact. Could his noble
friend say so
Earl GRANVILLE said the noble earl was not jus-
tified in making such sweeping charges against the admi•
nistration of justice in India, and the civil servants of
the Indian Company. The correspondence to which
the noble earl bad referred had not yet been received, but
was expected in the course of a few days, and until then
be did not wish to express any opinion as to the actual
merits of the case. An iequiry, without doubt, would
be made into the whole affair.
Lord CAMPBELL expressed his regret that no steps
bad yet been taken to improve the administration of
justice in India.
The motion was withdrawn.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMBIONS—(This Evening.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at 5 o'clock. Mr. H.
Baillie, Mr. Cowan, Mr. F. Williams, Col. Biddulph,
Lord Haddo, Mr. Cheetham, Sir M. Chohnouthey, and
two other members took the oaths and their seats.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following private bills were read a third time and
passed :—Exeter and Exmouth Railway, Great Southern
and Western Railway Capital, and Inverness aud Nairn
Railway.
PORTLAND HARBOUR BILL.
Mr. OSBORNE nominated the following select com-
mittee on this bill :—Mr. Osborne, Col. Freestun, Mr.
Campbell, Mr. Portman, Mr. H. Sturt, Mr. her Sey-
mer, Mr. R. B. Sheridan, Mr. C. Sturt, and five mem-
bers to be added by the committee of selection. Five to
be the quorum; and that the committee have leave to
sit and proceed on giving two days' notice in the Private
Bill-office.
Agreed to.
CANNOCK MINERAL RAILWAY (No. 2) BILL.
Mr. MALINS moved that this bill be committed, be
read, and discharged, and that the bill be withdrawn.—
Agreed to.
CHATHAIII LANDS, &c. BILL.
Mr. OSBORNE nominated the select committee on
thi bill. Mr. o,borne, Sir F. Smith, Mr. P. W. Martin,
Mr. J. A. Kinglake, Sir E. Dering, Mr. Whatman, Sir
B. Bridges, Sir J. Ramsden, and five members to be
added to the committee of selection—five to the quorum
—and that the committee have leave to sit and proceed
on giving to days' notice in the Private Bill-office.—
Agreed to.
CHATHAM DISTRICT WATER BILL.
Mr. C. FORSTER moved that this bill be committed,
be read, and discharged; and that the bill be withdrawn.
—Agreed to.