Minute by His Excellency the Viceroy [‎25r] (7/10)

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satisfip^of tlie justice and propriety of not replacing Mulhar Rao in power,
apart from the result of the recent inquiry, that they did not hesitate to act
upon the instructions which they had receiyed. Accordingly, in the Pro
clamation which announced the deposition of Mulhar Hao, it was stated that
Her Majesty's Government had not based their decision on the enquiry or
report of the Commission, and that they had not assumed that the result
of the enquiry had been to prove the truth of the imputations against
Mulhar Hao.
24. It may be alleged, in opposition to the course that has been adopted,
that, if Mulhar Rao has been justly deposed upon general grounds, he should
have been deposed either upon the receipt of the report of Sir Meade's
Commission, or at some other time before the inquiry before Sir Richard
Couch's Commission was concluded. But a review of the circumstances in
the order in which they occurred will show that the Government of India
could not, consistently with the forbearance which they considered it to be
both right and expedient to exercise in dealing with Mulhar Rao, have recom
mended his deposition at any former time.
25. Sir Richard Meade's Commission did not recommend Mulhar Rao's
deposition, neither did the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , through whom their
report was brought under the consideration of the Government of India.
The evidence was not considered by the Government of India to be suffi
cient in itself to justify the adoption of so extreme a measure. At the
same time the charges of misgovernment proved against Mulhar Rao were
very grave; his personal character was seriously compromised; and he was
distinctly warned that he would be deposed if he did not take advantage of
the period of grace then given to him. Her Majesty's Government approved
of the manner in which Mulhar Rao was then dealt with. I am satisfied that
the action which was taken was just and sufficient, and that it was so con
sidered at the time by all those who were in a position to give a sound opinion
upon the subject.
26. In the interval between the report of Sir Richard Meade's Com
mission and Mulhar Rao's suspension from power, several instances undoubtedly
occurred in which he gravely misconducted himself. These were his marriage
with Luxmabaee; his treatment of Ruckmabaee the younger widow of his
brother; and his quarrels with his Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. . In consequence, however, of
Colonel Phayre's proceedings, which eventually led to his removal from Baroda,
the Government of India felt themselves compelled to accept his reports of
Mulhar Rao's misconduct with some qualification, and up to the time of the
serious attempt to take the life of Colonel Phayre the Government of India
did not think that sufficient reasons existed to make it desirable for them
to re-consider their decision granting to Mulhar Rao a period of grace.
On looking back to the circumstances as they were then known, apart from
subsequent events, I am satisfied that the deposition of Mulhar Rao during
this period would have been regarded as showing a pre-determination on the
part of the Government of India to remove Mulhar Rao, and a refusal to