WARREN HASTINGS (1772-1785)
In 1772, the Company appointed Warren Hastings as the Governor of Fort William
Reforms of Warren Hastings:
1. Abolition of the Dual System
- The East India Company decided to act as Diwan and to undertake the collection of revenue by its own agents.
- Hence, the Dual System introduced by Robert Clive was abolished
- Warren Hastings reduced the Nawab’s allowance of 32 lakhs of rupees to half that amount
- He also stopped the annual payment of 26 lakhs given to the Mughal Emperor
- A Board of Revenue was established at Calcutta to supervise the collection of revenue.
- English Collectors were appointed in each district.
- The treasury was removed from Murshidabad to Calcutta and an Accountant General was appointed
- Calcutta thus became the capital of Bengal in 1772and shortly after of British India
- The Board of Revenue farmed out the lands by auction for a period of five years instead of one year in order to find out their real value.
- Yet, the system was a failure. Many zamindars defaulted and the arrears of revenue accumulated.
2. Reorganisation of the Judicial System
- The judicial system at the time of Warren Hastings’ ascendancy was a store-house of abuses.
- The Nawab who was hitherto the chief administrator of justice, misused his powers.
- The zamindars who acted as judges at lower levels within their own areas were highly corrupt and prejudiced
- Each district was provided with a civil court Under the Collector A criminal court under an Indian Judge
- To hear appeals from the district courts two appellate courts, one for civil cases and another for criminal cases, were established at Calcutta
- The highest civil court of appeal was called Sadar Diwani Adalat, Which was to be presided over by the Governor and two judges recruited from among the members of his council.
- Similarly, the highest appellate criminal court was known as Sadar Nizamat Adalat
- Which was to function under an Indian judge appointed by the Governor-in-Council
- Experts in Hindu and Muslim laws were provided to assist the judges.
- An English translation of it – Code of Hindu Laws – was prepared by Halhed.
3. Trade Regulations and other Reforms
- Warren Hastings abolished the system of dastaks, or free passes and regulated the internal trade.
- He reduced the number of custom houses and enforced a uniform tariff of 2.5 percent for Indian and non-Indian goods
- He reduced the number of custom houses and enforced a uniform tariff of 2.5 percent for Indian and non-Indian goods
- Weavers were given better treatment and facilities were made to improve their condition.
- He also introduced a uniform system of pre-paid postage system.
- A bank was started in Calcutta.