1 SALT REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR 1896-97.
2 North:Western Provinces and Oudh.—Prices have been
3 obtained from Departmental returns, Here also the rates are
4 practically the same for both years.
5 Behar.—These prices have also been taken from Depart-
6 mental returns. The rates of the past year were higher than
7 those of 1895-96. This was due to the prices of salt at
8 Calcutta being very low during the latter period.
9 Central Provinces.—The rates given have been taken from
10 the Gazette of India. Generally prices were lower during
11 1896-97 in comparison with 1895-96.
12 69. Appendix IV. of this report will show by divisions
13 in full detail, the number of persons arrested fur offences
14 against the salt law, the number discharged by the Depart-
15 ment after inquiry, the number prosecuted, and the result of
16 the prosecutions. Anabstract of the figures of the Appendix
17 for the past two years will be found below :—
18 Released by Percentage
19 Number Sent up for} s scted ed
20 arrested, the a trial. Acquitted, | Convicted,| of convic:
21 Year, ‘
22 tions,
23 ——
24 eed
25 1895-96 ae 1,934 1,358 576 18 558 96:87
26 1896-97 ae 1,507 959 547 46 484 91°32
27 Compared with 1895-96 there was a decrease during the
28 year under report of 427 in the number. of persons arrested
29 and of 399 in the number discharged after Departmental
30 inquiry. There was also a decrease of 29 in the number of
31 persons prosecuted, while the acquittals increased by 28, and
32 convictions decreased by 74,
33 The percentage of convictions on committals is not good,
34 having fallen from 96°87 in 1895-96 to 91°32 during the past
35 year. This decline was owing to two cases which occurred in
36 the Lower Division of the Internal Branch, in which 25 persons
37 accused of illicit manufacture of salt, were acquitted on appeal
38 from the decision of a bench of Honorary Magistrates on the
39 ground that the bench had no jurisdiction.
40 In the Punjab Mines Division there were 232 cases during
41 the past year compared with 706 in 1895-96, or a decrease of
42 A74 cases. The falling off occurred in connection with the
43 Indus Preventive Line, on which there were only 145 cases
44 during the year under report compared with 641 in 1895-96.
45 This was of course due to the enhancement of the duty on
46 Kohat salt. There were no important cases in the Division
47 during the year.
48 Not a single case occurred at the Sultdnpur salt works,
49 though the country in which these Salt Sources are situate
50 was severely affected by the drought.
51 Cases at the Rajputina Salt Sources were as follows :—
52 At the Sambhar Lake there were only 12 cases compared
53 with 22 during 1895-96. Owing to the failure of the monsoon
54 rains of 1896 manufacturing operations were carried on for a
55 shorter period than usual,a smaller number of people were
56 engaged in manufacture and the temptation to steal salt was
57 not so great and prolonged. There was one petty case at Didwana
58 and none at Falodi. In the Pachbadra Division there were
59 52 cases compared with only 23 in 1895-96. Seven cases of a
60 petty natfre occurred at the Pachbadra Salt Source, and the
61 remaining 45 at the Luni salt tract. In connection with these
62 latter nearly 18 maunds of stolen salt were seized.
63 ( 69 )
64 PRICES OF SALT.
65 PENAL ACTION OF
66 THE DEPARTMENT.
67 Arrests for breaches of
68 the salt laws. -