1773 - 1798

By - Mahipal Singh Rathore

Warren Hastings (1772-85)

Regulating Act 1773

Pitt’s India Act 1784

Cornwallis (1786-93)

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Warren Hastings, 1772-1785

He laid the strong foundations of company rule in India

• Ended the dual system in Bengal

• Cut Bengal Nawab’s annual allowance

• Stopped Mughal emperor’s 26 lakh annual payment

• Established Board of revenue – Diwani work

• Appointed ‘collectors’ and other revenue officials

• Started Lease/Itaredari system auctioning the land for 5 years to highest bidder in Bengal

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• Shifted treasury to Calcutta (became capital of Bengal in 1772)

• Founded Civil court + Criminal court in each district

Diwani - Civil

Faujdari - criminal cases

• Appellate courts established too

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• Abolished the system of dastaks (free passes) → regulated internal trade

• Enforced a uniform tariff of 2.5 % for Indian and non-Indian goods

• In 1781, he founded the Calcutta Madrasa for promotion of Islamic studies. This was the first educational institute established by the Company’s government.

• 1784 – Asiatic society of Bengal by William Jones

• Charles Wilkins translated Gita in English

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Wars • First Rohilla War 1773

Shuja ud daulah, Nawab of Awadh vs. Rohillas

The Nawab was supported by troops of the British East India Company

Result → Rohilkhand fell to Awadh, was plundered and occupied

The war became a matter of Westminster politics during the Impeachment of Warren Hastings

• First Anglo Maratha War - Treaty of Salbai

• Second Anglo Mysore war

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Impeachment of Warren Hastings

Impeached in England on charges related to

• Rohilla War

• Case of Nanda Kumar

• Treatment of Raja Chait Singh of Benares

• The pressures on the Begums of Oudh.

• Nanda Kumar was an influential official in Bengal. He was hanged to death by the verdict of the Supreme Court at Calcutta for a petty offence of forgery. It was contended that Warren Hastings and the judge of the Supreme Court conspired against Nanda Kumar.

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• Warren Hastings imposed heavy penalty on the Raja Chait Singh of Benares for his delay in payment of tribute and deposed him in an unjust manner.

• The Begums of Oudh were mother and grandmother of the Nawab of Oudh. Warren Hastings helped the Nawab by sending his troops to the help of Nawab who squeezed money from the Begums.

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Estimate of Hastings

• Warren Hastings considered Indian culture as a basis for sound Indian administration, he patronised the learning of Indian languages and arts

• It was on the foundation which Warren Hastings laid down, that others erected a ‘stately edifice’.

**NOTE - Francis Hastings (1813-23)

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REGULATING ACT of 1773

• First step by British Government to exert Control in India and regulate the affairs of the East India Company

• Giving POLITICAL STRUCTURE to rule

Existing Structure

In India : Governor + council in each presidency

In England : Court of Directors

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Reasons for bringing the Act

• Address the problem of management of company in India – EIC was on verge of Bankruptcy and asked govt for a loan, while its officers were rich.

• Address the problem of dual system of governance instituted by Lord Clive

• The company was now a semi-sovereign political entity in India – had revenue rights

Lord North’s committee submitted a report, based on which the act was framed

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Provisions of the Act

• Court of Directors term increased from 1 to 4 years with ¼ retiring every year & not eligible for re-election

• EIC to produce all its papers related to military and revenue, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (British Treasury department)

• Made the presidencies of Bombay and Madras as subordinate to the Presidency of Calcutta.

• Governor of Bengal → Governor General of Fort William/Bengal (5 year tenure)

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• Council of 4 members to assist Governor General of Fort William

• Decisions in council to be taken via majority, with governor’s vote as casting vote in case of a tie

• Governor general → Supreme over other presidencies/governors in matters of peace and war

• Establishment of an independent Supreme court at Calcutta (1 CJ + 3 Judges)

• No private trade or any Gift/Cash acceptance by any officer of the EIC (including Gov. General, Council members, Supreme Court members)

NOTE – ELIZA IMPAY – fist CJ of SC

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Merits

• Act of 1773 put an end to the arbitrary rule of the Company

• It provided a written const. for EIC rule and acknowledged its political and administrative duties

• Provided a framework for all future enactments relating to the governing of India.

Demerits

• Governor-General was made powerless because the council which was given supreme power often created deadlocks by over-ruling his decision.

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Pitt’s India Act ,1784

• William Pitt the Junior – Prime minister

• Formation of Board of control (6 Members) appointed by crown working alongside board of directors

Court of Directors – To look after commercial functions ;representing company

Board of control – To look after political affairs ;representing the crown

• Established a system of double government -Distinguished between the commercial and political functions of the Company

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• EIC’s territories in India were designated as British Possessions in India

• Reduced the members in Gov. General’s Council from 4 → 3

• Authorised Court of Directors to make all recruitments in India

• Supreme court made for only British subjects

• GG of Bengal can’t declare war without permission from Parliament**

CHARTER ACT OF 1786

GG of Bengal given special powers to override his council

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Lord Cornwallis 1786 – 1793

• He was a High ranking aristocrat ,not a company man

• Commander of defeated British army in the

American war of Independence

• Revenue reforms -Permanent Settlement of Bengal

• Administrative reforms - Father of Civil services in India

• Judicial Reforms - Cornwallis code

• Police reforms

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Administrative reforms -

• Laid foundation of Indian administrative services by making appointments on the basis of merit in civil services

• Raised salaries of company servants to stop private trade and corruption

• Europeanization of the services - He did not trust Indians at all

• All high Indian officials were dismissed and all posts worth more than £500 a year were reserved for Europeans

• Separation of powers between Commercial, Judicial & Revenue officials (Rousseau).

• Judicial powers of Collectors taken away – now only revenue

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Judicial Reforms – Cornwallis Code

• District Judge in every district – magisterial and judicial powers vested

• 4 provincial courts at Calcutta, Dhaka, Patna & Murshidabad along with District courts

• Faujdari (criminal) courts with Indian judges abolished

• Highest court of Appeal at Calcutta

Sadar Diwani Adalat

Sadar Nizamat Adalat

Both of them were presided over by the Governor-General and his Council

• Separate Hindu and Muslim laws codified

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• 1791 – Sanskrit College established by Jonathan Duncan at Banaras

• To study of Hindu law and philosophy

Police reforms • Relieved the Zamindars from police work

• Established regular police force

• Established Thanas in districts under Darogas (Indian)

• District Judge controlled Police

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John Shore (1793-1798)

• Was the principal revenue adviser during the regime of the first Governor General of India, Warren Hastings (1772-1785).

• Most of the reforms in the revenue administration in 1786 and 1790 were introduced by Shore –assisted Cornwallis

• The Court of Directors was so impressed by Shore’s reasoning and knowledge and his genuine concern for the interests of the company and the people, that he was appointed the Governor General of India in 1793

• Uneventful rule

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• Followed Non-intervention policy with other States / Territories

• This resulted in the Nizam employing French officers to train his army thus decreasing the English influence.

• The Marathas and Tipu Sultan also sought the help of the French thus undermining the British

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THANK YOU

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