1 ’ REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NORTHERN INDIA
2 PENAL ACTION OF In the Internal Branch 1,210 cases occurred compared with
3 eee SENS 1,182 during 1895-96, or an increase of 28 cases only In view
4 of the severe scarcity and distress which prevailed over the
5 North-Western Provinces and Oudh and Behar there was a
6 possibility of the poorer classes resorting largely to the illicit
7 manufacture of salt, and the greatest vigilance was exercised for
8 the protection of the revenue. At the same time, I instructed
9 my officers not to prosecute in any case in which not more than
10 a seer of sait had been produced, and to release at once and un-
11 . conditionally any persons who seemed from their appearance
12 to have resorted to illivit manufacture under the pressure of
13 actual want. Owing to the beneficent measures of relief adopt-
14 ed by Government, Tam glad to be able to say that though the
15 past year was one ‘of peculiar difficulty and distress, there was
16 practically no increase in the illicit manufacture of salt in the
17 Internal Branch. No better proof could be afforded of the efficacy
18 of those measures than the figures I have given, as in the past the
19 poorer classes of the population have always been in the habit
20 of resorting freely in times of scarcity and distress to illicit
21 manufacture on the salt tracts which cover large areas in the
22 North-Western Provinces and Oudh.
23 Departmental releases, ‘70. The next statement gives particulars in regard to per-
24 sons released by the Department during the past two years :—
25 >
26 For making
27 Infirm per- | or being in
28 sons, pregnant possession of
29 On proof of
30 ignorance or
31 Year, inadvertence Total.
32 women and | less than one
33 children, seer of illicit peace
34 salt, i
35 1895-96... iss oie 6 1,263 89 1,358
36 1896-97... oe ae 18 797 144 959
37 The headings of the table show the reasons for release. The
38 decrease is owing to the decline in the number of seizures on
39 « the Indus Preventive Line consequent on the enhancement of
40 the duty on Kohat salt.
41 Punishments awarded by 71. Appendix V gives particulars in detail in regard to
42 orieenal conkts: punishments inflicted by Criminal Courts in cases prosecuted
43 to conviction, and the table below aflords the same information
44 in an abstract form :— ‘
45 Number im-
46 prisoned in Average Average
47 Year. default of {period of im- ould Hide amount of
48 payment of | prisonment P ° fines.
49 fine.
50 ! _ —
51 No. m. d. No. Rs.
52 1895-96... oe an 245 1 13 327 775
53 1896-97 ., av ose 323 144 169 7°36
54 A. comparison of the twe years shows little difference in the
55 punishments awarded. These were sufficiently deterrent.
56 Criminal offences commits 72. The following statement gives particulars in regard
57 ted by establishment. tg members of the establishment who were punished for cri-
58 minal offences during the year :—
59 ace Unnatural False
60 Division, Theft. crime, charge.
61 Upper Division ... - See eee tes 1 ose see
62 Punjab Mines... fess dee via wie 1 see
63 Pachbadra vee one ore ou 2 ae %
64 I SR a | nr |e emenen i gS Se
65 Total aes 3 1 2