Prelims 2011 · archive
HardThe 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?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) None of the (a), (b) and (c) above
After 1793 the zamindars lost their troops and their control over local justice, so they could not easily make ryots pay rent. Their only remedy was to sue defaulters in court, where the process was long drawn, and suits piled up. In Burdwan alone more than 30,000 suits for rent arrears were pending in 1798. None of (a), (b) or (c) states this cause. The settlement did not strengthen the zamindar against the ryot, and it did not make the courts more efficient.
- ✗ (a) This is the reverse of what happened. At first, the Permanent Settlement limited the zamindar's power to collect rent from the ryot. Because he could not force payment himself, he had to go to court, and that is where the suits came from.
- ✗ (b) The Company did control and regulate the zamindars. For example, a zamindari could be auctioned if its revenue was not paid on time. But the mass of court cases is not traced to this. It came from rent disputes between zamindars and ryots that had to be settled in court.
- ✗ (c) The courts did not become more efficient. The judicial process was long drawn and cases piled up. In 1795 a Bengal Regulation imposed high court fees to put a stop to groundless, frivolous and speculative suits.
- ✓ (d) The rise in litigation came from zamindars losing their own coercive and judicial powers, so every rent default became a lawsuit. None of the three listed provisions describes this.
Remember · Permanent Settlement (1793): zamindars lost their troops and control of local justice, so they had to sue defaulting ryots. Over 30,000 rent-arrears suits were pending in Burdwan in 1798. In 1795 high court fees were imposed to curb groundless suits.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part III, Ch 1 (practise this chapter) · Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part III, Ch 1 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 12 · Themes in Indian History, Part III, Chapter 1 “The zamindar could therefore not easily assert his power over them. Zamindars could prosecute defaulters, but the judicial process was long drawn. In Burdwan alone there were over 30,000 pending suits for arrears of rent payment in 1798.”
- NCERT Class 12 · Themes in Indian History, Part III, Chapter 1 “Fourth: the Permanent Settlement initially limited the power of the zamindar to collect rent from the ryot and manage his zamindari.”
- Law Commission of India, 189th Report on Revision of Court Fees Structure (2004) ↗ “In fact when it was stated in the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bengal Regulation, 1795 that the imposition of high rates of court fees is to put a stop to groundless and frivolous and speculative cases”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2011, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·