Question

Write a note on the British Justice System And Presidencies.

Answer 1

Answer:

Warren Hastings, who served as Governor-General of India from 1773 to 1785, instituted a number of administrative reforms, the most well-known of which were in the areas of justice and taxation. He was also instrumental in the Company’s expansion, and by the end of his reign, the Company had gained control of Bengal, Bombay, and Madras. Presidencies were used to classify British territories into administrative units.

• In 1772, a new judicial structure was created, with each district having two courts: a criminal court or faujdari adalat and a civil court or diwani adalat. For European district collectors who ruled over civil courts, Maulvis and Hindu pandits described Indian laws. The criminal courts were still supervised by the collectors, but they were still supervised by a qazi and a mufti.
• N.B. Halhed translated this digest into English after eleven pandits were asked to compile a digest of Hindu laws based on dharmashastra in 1775. By 1778, a code of Muslim laws had been assembled for European judges’ use.
• A new Supreme Court was created under the Regulating Act of 1773, as was a court for appeals – the Sadar Nizamat Adalat – in Calcutta.
• With the assistance of judges, police officers, and darogas, the Collector was the main figure, and his main duty was to collect revenue and taxes as well as maintain law and order in his district. The Collectorate, as his office was known, became the modern centre of influence and patronage.