LAWSUIT WON

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 21, 25 July 1934, Page 17

LAWSUIT WON

BY RAiJITSIWHJI'S HEIRS

MILLION AT STAKE

A decision has been reached by Lord Dunedin, who was a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary from 1913-32, in an important case affecting'the' relations 'between the Indian Princes and the Goverment of India,: says the; "Daily Mail." . ; . .;;:.-'' . '-- Lord Dunedin was: appointed as arbitrator to. adjudicate in the' conflict of views between the late Maharajah Jam Sahib of Nawanagar ("Bariji") and the Government of India after, protracted discussions regarding the: ports in his State. - : . • ■ . - - ■ From the year 1027 up to his death in April, 1933, -the Maharajah' fought the Government over the imposition of a Customs duty on goods shipped to hia ports for British-India. ' > :-■■■■ Some -time before. his death he learned that success crowned his efforts to have the case tried in England; he had* spent thousands of pounds to win his point, as, he . held that an impartial decision could not be given by the Indian Government in a case in which more than £1,000,000 was' 'at stake. .""'•■ It is understood that Lord ■■ Dunedin has pronounced definitely in favour of the. Maharajah. He finds- that tte action of the Government ef: India in demanding Customs dues from the State of Nawanagar was inconsistent with their undertaking, and that therefore the Maharajah had "just cause of complaint." ' ..•••■ ;. ■ During theseven years in which negotiations have been proceeding.nearly £1,500,000 have been paid to the Government by the State of Nawanagar. The Maharajah's personal' finances depended largely an the result of this ease, and he relied upon . success; to bring, to a conclusion 'many, of.'tlia plans he,had made for'his people's welfare. ',■"■':.-'■. ■ ■'~.' ".-:'"■-'• ■. : A considerable sum of money, will have to be paid over by the Government of India to his nephew and .successor, Raj Kumar Digvijay Sinhji, and it is not yet-known what effect this will have upon the. Indian Budget, which is hot entirely equipped to stand the strain of a large-^and unexpected : —cash payment.' .'..■ . '. : .' :, *.'".' ■ The result of the arbitration, which" is largely due tc- the- work of Sir-Les-lie. Scott, K.C., has been awaited with interest in London legal circles and is regarded as' a posthumous triumph ior the famous.Maharajah.' ' ■':'■ .:. ;-;