Reforms under Warren Hastings (1772-1785)

● District Diwani Adalats were established in districts

to try civil disputes. These adalats were placed under the

collector and had Hindu law applicable for Hindus and the

Muslim law for Muslims. The appeal from District Diwani

Adalats lay to the Sadar Diwani Adalat which functioned under

a president and two members of the Supreme Council.

● District Fauzdari Adalats were set up to try criminal

disputes and were placed under an Indian officer assisted by

qazis and muftis. These adalats also were under the general

supervision of the collector. Muslim law was administered

in Fauzdari Adalats. The approval for capital punishment and

for acquisition of property lay to the Sadar Nizamat Adalat

at Murshidabad which was headed by a deputy nizam (an

Indian Muslim) assisted by chief qazi and chief mufti.

● Under the Regulating Act of 1773, a Supreme Court

was established at Calcutta which was competent to try all

British subjects within Calcutta and the subordinate factories,

including Indians and Europeans. It had original and appellate

jurisdictions. Often, the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

clashed with that of other courts.