Reforms under Warren Hastings (1772-1785)
● District Diwani Adalats were established in districts
to try civil disputes. These adalats were placed under the
collector and had Hindu law applicable for Hindus and the
Muslim law for Muslims. The appeal from District Diwani
Adalats lay to the Sadar Diwani Adalat which functioned under
a president and two members of the Supreme Council.
● District Fauzdari Adalats were set up to try criminal
disputes and were placed under an Indian officer assisted by
qazis and muftis. These adalats also were under the general
supervision of the collector. Muslim law was administered
in Fauzdari Adalats. The approval for capital punishment and
for acquisition of property lay to the Sadar Nizamat Adalat
at Murshidabad which was headed by a deputy nizam (an
Indian Muslim) assisted by chief qazi and chief mufti.
● Under the Regulating Act of 1773, a Supreme Court
was established at Calcutta which was competent to try all
British subjects within Calcutta and the subordinate factories,
including Indians and Europeans. It had original and appellate
jurisdictions. Often, the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
clashed with that of other courts.
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