Understanding Administrative Reforms in British India

The question asks about the historical figure responsible for designing an administrative code that led to the separation of revenue administration from judicial administration during the British rule in India. This separation was a significant reform aimed at improving governance and reducing potential conflicts of interest.

Lord Cornwallis and Administrative Separation

Lord Cornwallis served as the Governor-General of Bengal from 1786 to 1793. His tenure is marked by several important administrative and legal reforms, collectively known as the Cornwallis Code of 1793. A key feature of this code was the clear separation of powers between different branches of administration, particularly between revenue collection and the dispensation of justice.

Before Cornwallis's reforms, the collectors, who were responsible for collecting land revenue, also exercised judicial powers in their districts. This concentration of power often led to abuses and made it difficult for ordinary people to get fair justice against the actions of the revenue officials.

Key Aspects of Cornwallis's Administrative Code (1793):

• Separation of Revenue and Justice: The most significant reform was the separation. Collectors were stripped of their judicial powers. Civil justice was now entrusted to a new hierarchy of civil courts.
• Establishment of Courts: A systematic judicial structure was established.
  • District Diwani Adalats: Presided over by European judges (replacing collectors) for civil cases.
  • Registrar's Courts: Subordinate to District courts.
  • Sadar Diwani Adalat: The highest civil court of appeal in Calcutta.
• Criminal Justice Reform: While the separation primarily focused on civil/revenue functions, reforms were also made in criminal justice (Nizamat Adalats), though the structure was slightly different, ultimately leading up to the Sadar Nizamat Adalat.
• Rule of Law: The code aimed to introduce the concept of the rule of law, meaning that government servants were also made answerable to the courts for their official actions.

This separation was a foundational step in establishing a more structured and less arbitrary administration compared to the earlier system. It was intended to provide a check on the power of the revenue officials and improve the fairness of the judicial system.

Why Other Options Are Less Likely

• Warren Hastings: Preceded Cornwallis. While Hastings introduced significant reforms and laid some groundwork, the systematic separation of revenue and judicial functions as formalized in the 1793 Code is attributed to Cornwallis.
• Lord Auckland & Lord Lytton: These individuals served as Governors-General/Viceroys much later in the 19th century. Their administrative reforms were focused on different areas and periods in Indian history, not the fundamental separation enacted by Cornwallis.

Based on historical records of administrative reforms during the British Raj, Lord Cornwallis is recognized for implementing the code that distinctly separated revenue administration from judicial administration.

Revision Table: Key Administrators and Reforms

Additional Information: Impact of the Cornwallis Code

The Cornwallis Code of 1793 had a lasting impact on the structure of British administration in India. While the separation of revenue and justice was a progressive step towards a more formal legal system, it also had consequences:

• It increased the complexity of the administration.
• It firmly entrenched European control by placing European judges in charge of the key civil courts.
• The focus shifted from traditional methods to a more formal, codified legal system based on English legal principles.
• It strengthened the position of collectors as purely revenue officials, distinct from judicial roles.

Understanding this separation is crucial for grasping the evolution of the administrative and judicial systems under British rule.