Judgement

Petition for special leave to appeal from convictions by the Lahore Conspiracy Case Tribunal, Lahore, on October 7, 1930.

On May 1, 1930, the Governor-General, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by s. 72 of the Government of India Act, 1915, made and promulgated the Lahore Conspiracy Case Ordinance, 1930, which transferred the trial of a case, known as the Lahore conspiracy case, to a tribunal to be

Law Rep. 58 Ind. App. 169 ( 1930- 1931)

Bhagat Singh V. King-Emperor 48

constituted by the Chief Justice of Lahore and to consist of three judges of the High Court; the tribunal was given powers to deal with wilful obstruction to its proceedings. The promulgation of the Ordinance was accompanied by a statement of the reasons moving the Governor-General to the exercise of his powers.

The terms of the Government of India Act, 1915, s. 72, as amended by the Act of 1919, Sch. II., Part II., appear from the judgment of the Judicial Committee.

The twelve petitioners, who had originally been charged with others before a magistrate on July 4, 1929, were tried by the Tribunal constituted under the Ordinance, and consisting of Hilton, Abdul Quadir and Tapp JJ.

On October 7, 1930,