Paschim Medinipur District Court

ABOUT DISTRICT COURT

The earliest legal system of Midnapore with gradual development after Muslim Rule began with the administrative plan of 1772 by the then Governor General. It was devised with a District as the unit. The territory of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa was sub divided into a number of districts with the District Midnapore. In each of the Districts an English servant of the company was appointed as Collector, responsible for the collection of land revenue. The Judicial Plan was integrated with this scheme for revenue collection.

A Mofussil Diwani Adalat was established in each District including the District of Midnapore with Collector as a Judge. He was authorized to decide all civil cases such as disputes relating to real and personal property, inheritance, marriage, caste, debts, disputed accounts, contracts, partnerships and demands of rent. In all suits regarding inheritance, marriage, caste and other religious usages and institutions, the law of ‘the Quran with regards to Mohammedans, and those are Sashtras with respect to the Hindus’ were to be applied. The Collector who were called up on to administer justice, being Englishmen did not know much about these legal systems.

To facilitate disposal of small cases, provision was made for disputes up[...]