The tendency for increased litigation was visible after the introduction of the land settlement system of Lord Cornwallis in 1793. The reason for this is normally traced to which of the following provisions?
- Making Zamindar’s position stronger vis-a-vis the ryot
- Making East India Company an overlord of Zamindars
- Making judicial system more efficient
- None of the (a), (b) and (c) above
Explanation
Option (d) is correct
- While options (a), (b), and (c) describe actual features or goals of the Permanent Settlement, none of them were the specific “provision” that triggered the surge in court cases. Historically, the increase is attributed to:
- Abolition of Court Fees: Cornwallis abolished court fees to make justice more accessible to the poor. This inadvertently encouraged people to file suits without financial restraint, leading to a massive backlog.
- Separation of Executive and Judiciary: By depriving District Collectors of judicial powers and creating independent Diwani Adalats, the reforms allowed both the government and Zamindars to be sued in civil courts.
- Undefined Ryot Rights: The settlement failed to clearly define the rights of the cultivators (ryots), leading to constant disputes over rent and evictions that were then brought to the new courts.
