Question
In what way was the administration of the Company different from that of Indian rulers?
Solution
The administration of the Company was different from that of the Indian rulers in the following ways:
(i) British territories were broadly divided into administrative units called Presidencies. There were three Presidencies: Bengal, Madras and Bombay.
(ii)Each was ruled by a Governor. The supreme head of the administration was the Governor-General.
(iii)A new system of justice was established. Each district was to have two courts – a criminal court ( faujdari adalat ) and a civil court (diwani adalat). Maulvis and Hindu pandits interpreted Indian laws for the European district collectors who presided over civil courts.
(iv)The criminal courts were still under a qazi and a mufti but under the supervision of the collectors.
(v)The principal figure in an Indian district was the Collector. As the title suggests, his main job was to collect revenue and taxes and maintain law and order in his district with the help of judges, police officers and darogas.
