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Indian Judicial System under British Rule - Warren Hastings, Lord Cornwallis, and William Bentinck

Warrren Hastings(1772-85):

The first law system was created in India in the time of the 1720s, it's likly around 1726. British India established courts in Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta, following a series of Charter Acts in the seventeenth century. On the other hand, Warren Hastings created judicial setups like Diwani Adalat and District Fauzdari Adalat.

In Diwani Adalat, there was a president and two supreme councils. On the other hand, Fauzdari Adalat was established mainly for judging criminal cases, aided by Qazis and Muftis. The Sadar Adalat was maintained by the Deputy Nizam and supported by the Chief Qazi and Chief Mufti.

Lord Cornwallis(1786-1793):

At one point, Lord Cornwallis dissolved the District Fauzdari court and created Circuit Courts in Calcutta, Murshidabad, and Patna.

A gradation was also created for Hindus and Muslims' civil rights, alongside the establishment of Munsiff Courts, Registrars, and District Courts.

In the code of Lord Cornwallis (1793), some administration measures were introduced to enhance Indian colonies.

William Bentinck as a lawmaker (1828-33):

Bentinck abolished the Circuit Courts in the territories of Allahabad, and created Sadar Diwani Adalat and Sadar Nizamat Adalat. Additionally, He adopted English as an official language.

On the other hand, Thomas Babington Macaulay established the Law Commission during his tenure to codify Indian laws. The Civil Procedure Code of 1859, the Indian Penal Code of 1860, and the Criminal Procedure Code of 1861 were developed.

The court system encountered numerous problems, including cultural, caste, and religious issues. It often took longer than necessary to deliver judgments, causing common people to face difficulties in obtaining justice.

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