UPSC Prelims 2011 · Question 23 of 100
UPSC Prelims 2011 question on Permanent Settlement Litigation
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2011
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectModern History
- TopicBritish Expansion in India
- DifficultyHard
- TypeDirect
The tendency for increased litigation was visible after the introduction of the land settlement system of Lord Cornwallis in 1793. The reason for this is normally traced to which of the following provisions?
Show answer
Answer: D. None of the (a), (b) and (c) above
Verdict
Correct Answer: None of the (a), (b) and (c) above
Analysis
The increase in litigation after the Permanent Settlement of 1793 was mainly due to administrative and legal changes introduced by the British, especially the removal of court fees and the weakening of traditional land-record systems.
Statement by statement
Option (a): Making Zamindar’s position stronger — Incorrect
The Permanent Settlement made zamindars landowners and revenue collectors, but this alone was not the main reason for increased litigation. The real problem was that the rights of peasants or ryots were not clearly defined. This created frequent disputes between zamindars and tenants over rent, eviction and land rights.
Option (b): Making East India Company an overlord — Incorrect
The East India Company already exercised political authority. Its position as the supreme power did not directly cause the sudden rise in civil cases.
Option (c): Making the judicial system more efficient — Incorrect
Cornwallis tried to reform the judicial system through the Cornwallis Code. However, making justice more accessible, especially by removing court fees, led to a flood of cases, including minor and petty disputes.
Extra UPSC info
Permanent Settlement, 1793 was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
It fixed land revenue permanently and made zamindars hereditary landholders.
The Sunset Law required zamindars to pay revenue by a fixed date; failure could lead to auction of their estates.
Since zamindars had to pay fixed revenue, they often increased pressure on ryots for rent collection.
The abolition or weakening of traditional record-keeping institutions like the Kanungo created confusion over land rights and boundaries.
British formal courts replaced many traditional dispute-resolution methods, increasing dependence on litigation.
How to crack it
The litigation explosion after the Permanent Settlement was not due to stronger zamindars, Company overlordship, or efficient judiciary. It was mainly due to unclear land rights, removal of court fees, pressure of revenue collection, and disruption of traditional land-record systems.