Understanding the Sunset Law and Zamindari Auctions

The question asks to identify a specific historical law related to land revenue collection, under which if a zamindar failed to make the required payment by a particular deadline, their zamindari estate would be subject to auction. This system was part of land revenue arrangements introduced during the British rule in India.

Analyzing the Law Governing Zamindari Payment Deadlines

The law in question established a strict rule for zamindars regarding the timely payment of land revenue to the colonial government. Failure to meet this deadline resulted in severe consequences – the auctioning of their zamindari. This was a crucial mechanism used to ensure a regular flow of revenue.

Let's look at the options provided:

• (a) Sunshine Law: This is not a recognized historical law related to land revenue in India.
• (b) Sun Law: Similar to Sunshine Law, this term does not correspond to a known historical law concerning zamindari payments and auctions.
• (c) Sunset Law: This term is historically associated with the strict deadline for zamindars to pay land revenue. If the payment was not received by the sunset of the specified date, the zamindari was liable to be auctioned off.
• (d) Sunrise Law: While related to the sun, this term is not the historical name given to the law concerning the sunset deadline for zamindari payments and auctions.

Based on historical context and the specific condition mentioned in the question – payment due by sunset leading to auction – the law is known as the Sunset Law.

Why Sunset Law is the Correct Identification

The term 'Sunset Law' precisely describes the defining feature of this regulation: the deadline for payment was fixed at the sunset of a particular day. This strict and unforgiving deadline often created difficulties for zamindars, especially during times of poor harvests or economic hardship, and led to frequent auctions of their estates.

Therefore, the law according to which non-payment of revenue by sunset on the specified date led to the auction of the zamindari was indeed the Sunset Law.

Revision Table: Key Aspects of the Sunset Law

Additional Information: Historical Context of Zamindari Auctions and Sunset Law

The Sunset Law was a stringent rule implemented as part of the land revenue system, most notably the Permanent Settlement introduced in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa by Lord Cornwallis in 1793. The Permanent Settlement fixed the land revenue demand from the zamindars permanently. While it provided security to the zamindars in terms of demand amount, the strict enforcement through the Sunset Law often resulted in many zamindaris being auctioned off, particularly in the initial years, as zamindars found it difficult to collect revenue from peasants and meet the fixed, rigid payment schedule, irrespective of harvest conditions. This system aimed to ensure a stable and predictable revenue income for the British government but led to significant social and economic consequences in rural areas.