Report On The Administration Of Criminal Justice In The Punjab And Its Dependencies, During The Year 1873

· 1874 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

1(- xxvi_ )

2tendency to admit other than reasonable d8ubts in,favor of prisoners, the polico administration

3must suffer.

4I think, however, from the very high per-contago of acquittala to convictions (sce para,

5iar fee ad Soeayletas 24) in bailable offentes under class 1, that the feo should he raised for

6should be raised for certain certain classes of cases. The propértion of persons acquitted to con-

7classes of uses. i : 5 : ;: ara ‘

8a victed under class B. was in Sirsa 131, in Hissdr 97, and in Rohtak

980 per cent. In the three districts J64 persons charged with absault wore acquitted to 375

10convicted. I think that our Courts ‘should give amends more liberally than they do in these

11cages, and also that the persons who take up thertime of our Courts with groundless and frivo-

12lous cases, as above, should pay moro liberally to the State for the luxury they enjoy.

13Lieutenant-Colonel IT. P. Babbage, Deputy Commissioner, Kargdl.

14Tho bulk of the litigation which engrosses the energies of our district officers is mostly

15Cheap, litigation. for the benefit of a class which pays no taxcs, and dovos not even I

16believé re-imburse the Government for the expense of tho Courts to which it #0 freely resorts.

17The cheap litigation of the present day appears in my humble opinion to be an ovil of Rerjous

18magnitude, but it is approved by Government and must be carried through. It is my dufy

19however, I believe, while noticing the methods and character of its performance to put promi-

20nently forward the evils I see it produce sand if it nfast be maintained the sooncr the proposals

21foe a separate agency fot dispusing of civil cases is passed the befter.

22G. Knox, Esq.. Deputy Commissioner, Rohtak.

23The work of English Magistrates is now cffectually supervised and every case decided

24Supervision of ater is brought to the notice of anperior authority. This is however not

25— oe tho ease with decisions of Nativo Magistrates, the abstract of such

26decisions is forwarded in vernacular and escapes observation at times. Tho supervision would

27be much more complete were all the registors to be prepared in English. [am strongly in

28favor of thorough supervision. If overy Subordinate Magistrate knows his work will bo

29looked over every month a wholesome «heck prevails. Every criminal caso would thus bo

30known.

31Major General sk Xi aylor, Commissioner, Amritsar Division.

32Assessors are invariably employed i in ibatacs trials. In 4 cases only had I occasion

33Assessors. € to differ from their opinion.

34The duty falls so seldom on individuals that they must not be expected to make mnch

35progress jn intelligence and efficiency. As I have before said their presence is ryost uscful as

36watchers of the trial, but too mada weight must not bo given by tho Chief Court to their

37opinions, for as a rule they are wonderfully lacking in sold ballast in the matter.

38If an assessor's temper gets ruffled in the course of tho trial! by hig action heing

39checked by the Judge, or bis opinions being flouted: by his collcaguts, he is apt to fall into