WARREN HESTINGS (1772-1785)

                                      

(A) Administrative Reforms

·   The Court of Directors ended the Dual system of Administration in Bengal Then Hesting dismissed the two Deputy Diwans

·   The Governor and the council formed the Board of Revenue and the company appointed its own officer called “Collector” to manage revenue affairs.

·   The Treasury was removed from Murshidabad to Calcutta

·   He appointed Munni Begum, the widow of Mir Jaffer as the guardian of minor Nawab Mubarak-ud-Daula of Bengal.

·   Allowance of the Nawab reduced from 32 lack to 16 lacks

·   The district of Allahabad and Kora were taken back from emperor and sold to the Nawab of Oudh for 15 lacks rupees.

·   He stopped the payment of 26 lacks of rupees annually paid to the Shah Alam.

                (B) Revenue Reforms

·   In 1772 made a 5yr settlement (The Quinquennial Settlement) of land revenue.

·   By the crude method of farming out estate to the highest bidder.

·   Indian Diwans replaced the private trade involved and corrupt collectors in the districts.

·   The drawback of the settlement was, the land had been over assessed and the state demand fixed very high. The result was that many revenue collectors fell in heavy arrears.

·   In 1776, Abolished the system of Quinquennial Settlement and reverted to the system of Annual settlement on the basis of open auction to the highest bidder. Changes made in it in 1781.

·   The provincial councils were abolished

·   The Collectors were reappointed in the districts but were to have no power in the settlement on the basis of open auction, for that Qanungos were appointed.

(C) Judicial Reforms

·   Built up the frame work of Justice after the Mughal Model (in 1772)

Calcutta Level	District Level
President and Council supervised Deputy Nizam assisted by Chief Kazi, Chief Mufti and  3 Maulavis Sadr Fauzdari Adalat	Collector supervised Indian Officers of the Company assisted by Quazis and Mufties Fauzdari Adalat
Governor, two Members of Supreme Council assisted byIndian Officers Sadr Diwani Adalat	Collector  Diwani Adalat

·   Diwani adalat could decide cases involving sums up to Rs 500

·   In Diwani cases Hindus, he Hindu law was applicable and in case of Muslims the Muslim laws

·   The Mohammadan law was followed in Fauzdari adalats.

·   Fauzdari adalat could not award death sentence or order confiscation of property without approval of Sadr Diwani Adalat.

·   The Regulating act 1773 provided for the setting up of Calcutta. Where English law was administered. Therefore the Justice of the Supreme court and other courts often clashed Chief Justice of Supreme court. Impey had to resign in November 1782

·   He attempted to codify Muslim and Hindu laws. A translation of the code in Sanskrit titled ‘Code of Gentoo Laws’ (1776). William Jones and Colebrooke published ‘Digest of Hindu Laws’(1791) attempt were also made to translate ’Fatwa-i-Alamgiri’ into english.

(D) Commercial Reforms

·   All custom houses suppressed and only 5 custom houses at Calcutta, Hugali, Murshidabad, Dacca and Patna were to be maintained.

·   Duties were lowered to 2.2%

·   Checked the misuse of Dastak or free pass signed

·   Checked the exploitation of weavers by the company’s agents.

·   Tried to develop trade relations with Bhutan and Tibet.

(E) The Regulating and Conflict with the Council

·   The Regulating act 1773 formed a council of Governor with Warren Hesting, Barwell, Clavering, Philip Francis and Manson

·   Hesting always remained in conflict with council as the state of Imbalance of Power created.

(F) Nandakumar case

·   Nandakumar, forcedly retired by Diwan of Bengal, probed that Hesting and Nawab wazir having accepted Rs. 3.5 lacks gratification from Munni Begum for appointing her as guardian for minor Nawab of Bengal, Mubarak-ud-Daula. Nandakumar requested to produce himself before the council.

·   Hesting refused to recognize the right of the council to sit in judgment on him.

·   Counter offensive against Nandkumar.- 19 April 1775 one Kamal-ud-Din brought charges ‘Nandakumar coerced him to sign a petition against Hasings and Barwell’

·   Mohandas, a pleader alleging that a certain jewels bond purporting to be signed by Balaki Das and to be an acknowledgment by him of a debt due to Nandakumar was a forgery.   

·   On 6^th May 1775 Jury heade by Impey Hanged Nandakumar.

(G) External Relations and other

·   The First Anglo-Maratha War (1776-1782)

·   The Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-1784)

·   Concluded treaty of Banaras (1773)with Nawab of Oudh.

·   The Rohilla War (1774) against Hafiz Rehamat Khan, Rohilla leader

·   The Affair of Chait Singh