By a regulation in 1793, the District Collector was deprived of his judicial powers and made the collecting agent only. What was the reason for such regulation?
- A.Lord Cornwallis felt that the District Collector's efficiency of revenue collection would enormously increase without the burden of other work
- B.Lord Cornwallis felt that Judicial power should compulsorily be in the hands of Europeans while Indians can be given the job of revenue collection in the districts
- C.Lord Cornwallis was alarmed at the extent of power concentrated in the District Collector and felt that such absolute power was undesirable in one person
- D.The judicial work demanded a deep knowledge of India and a good training in law and Lord Cornwallis felt that District Collector should be only a revenue collector
▶ Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: D. The judicial work demanded a deep knowledge of India and a good training in law and Lord Cornwallis felt that District Collector should be only a revenue collector
The Permanent Settlement of 1793, introduced by Lord Cornwallis, aimed to streamline revenue collection and strengthen the British administrative machinery. It was recognized that the dual role of revenue collection and judicial administration by the District Collector was inefficient and burdensome. Judicial functions required specialized legal knowledge and a deeper understanding of local customs and laws, which the revenue collectors often lacked. Therefore, the judicial powers were separated and vested in judicial officers, allowing the Collector to focus solely on revenue administration.
Source: UPSC gs1 2010