Legal defence to the people arrested in the aftermath of Chauri Chaura incident
Previous Year Questions: This question has been asked in the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2025 – Prelims – General Studies Paper I, held on Sunday, 25 May 2025.
Question: Who provided legal defence to the people arrested in the aftermath of Chauri Chaura incident?
(a) C. R. Das
(b) Madan Mohan Malaviya and Krishna Kant
(c) Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Khwaja Hasan Nizami
(d) M. A. Jinnah
प्रश्न: चौरी-चौरा घटना के परिणामस्वरूप बंदी बनाये गए लोगों को किसने विधिक प्रतिरक्षा (लीगल डिफेन्स) प्रदान की?
(a) सी.आर. दास
(b) मदन मोहन मालवीय और कृष्णकांत
(c) डॉ. सैफुद्दीन किचलू और ख्वाजा हसन निजामी
(d) एम.ए. जिन्ना
Topic: Indian National Movement
Explanation:
After the Chauri Chaura incident in Gorakhpur district, United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) on February 4, 1922, Gandhiji called off the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Approximately 225 people were arrested and charged with serious offenses, including murder and rioting. The trial began in January 1923 at Gorakhpur Sessions Court in which 172 people were sentenced to death.
Appeal was made in the High Court of Allahabad. On 30 April 1930, the High Court of Allahabad pronounced the final judgements in which 19 people were sentenced to death.
Several lawyers stepped forward to offer legal assistance. In 1911, Madan Mohan Malaviya left law to dedicate himself to national service. However, in 1924, he briefly resumed practice to defend individuals sentenced to death for the Chauri Chaura incident, securing acquittals for 155 and life sentences for the rest. Apart from Madan Mohan Malaviya his assistant Krishna Kant Malaviya also played an important role in the case.
Source(s): ” Comprehensive Modern Indian History : From 1707 to The Modern Times“ written by Brijesh Singh, published by S Chand.
