The document outlines criminal justice reforms introduced in British India in 1790. Key reasons for reform included a defective Muslim criminal law system, corrupt Muslim officers administering justice, and poorly paid officials.
The 1790 plan established new criminal courts, including Courts of the District Magistrate to try petty cases. Circuit Courts were formed to try cases twice yearly. The Sadar Foujudari Adlat court was moved to Calcutta and required to meet weekly, assisted by Muslim law officers. The reforms aimed to improve the weak administration of justice under the Nawab system.
2. Plan of 1787
Revenue Civil Criminal
G. G-in-Council King in Council Sadar Nizamat Adalat
Board of Revenue Sadar Diwani Adalat Mufussil Nizamat Adalat
Mal Adalat Diwani Adlat Magistrates Courts
4. Reasons behind introduction of Reforms
The defective system of the Mohammedan criminal Law
Defective constitution of trail courts trying criminal
offences.
Corrupt Muslim officers who were administering justice in
criminal court.
Entire criminal administration of justice was in the hands
of Nawab.
5. Because of the weak administration of Nawab.
The persons who entrusted with criminal justice were paid
hopelessly low salaries.
The Muslim criminal law which was applied by the courts
was also defective many ways.
Some of its provisions were contrary to the principles of
natural justice and they imposed very severe
punishments for petty cases.
6. Salient features of the plan
Court of district Magistrate
The collector in every district was authorized to act as
Magistrate to apprehend and arrest, murderers,
robbers, thieves, disturber of peace.
In petty cases he could him self impose punishment or
imprisonment not exceeding 15 days and he could
release the accused on bail.
7. It was moving court like a similar court which was in
existence in England.
Entire presidency divided into 4 divisions and each
division a circuit courts was established. ( Patna, Calcutta,
Murshidabad and Dacca)
It visited every district twice a year to try the person
who had been apprehended and charge-sheet by the
Magistrate in his area.
The court was assisted by Muslim law officers such as
Kazi and Mufti and all the judges were in this court was
English men.
8. Sadar-Foujudari-Adlat
The seat of this Court of this Court had been, so far, at
Murshidabad but under this plan it was shifted to
Calcutta.
The Court was constituted by the Governor-General-in-
Council as judges.
They were also to be assisted by Muslim law officers.
The adalt was require to conduct its business at least once
in a weak
