Sadr Diwani Adalat
The Ṣadr Dīwānī ʿAdālat was the Supreme Court of Revenue in British India established in 1772 at Calcutta by Warren Hastings, the first governor-general of Bengal. It was reformed in 1780 and again in 1793 by the British Parliament. The court's judges were the Governor General and Council Members of the East India Company, assisted by native judges and officers of revenue.
Meaning
The term is in the Urdu:- Sudder signifies literally "the breast"; the fore-court of a house; the chief seat of government, contradistinguished from Mofussil, or interior of the country; the presidency.
- Dewan is an ancient Persian word which was adopted throughout the Islamic world, meaning a powerful government official, minister or ruler.
- Adawlut, signifying "justice", "equity", a court of justice. The term Dewanny Adawlut signifies a civil court of justice. Foujdarry Adawlut signifies a criminal court of justice.
History
The court was established to allow Hindus to be governed by Hindu law in matters of property, and not as before by Muslim law, although they were still subject to Muslim criminal law.In each of the districts of British India, subordinate courts of revenue with definitive jurisdiction of up to 500 rupees, were established in which the judges were the relevant District Collector and his deputy and registrar, assisted by native officers. For cases exceeding 500 rupees, appeals were allowed to the Sudder Dewanny Adawlut.
The court was abolished after the Indian Rebellion of 1857.