Report No. 76

1.14. British perios.- The Regulations.-

In the British period, the initial Bengal Regulations did not try to abolish the system of panchayats.1 The Bengal Regulations of 1772, 1780 and 1781 were designed to encourage arbitration.2 We find in a Bengal Regulation of 1781 an interesting provision recommending arbitration, and also another interesting provision to the effect3 that no award of any arbitrator or arbitrators shall be set aside, except upon full proof, made by the oath of two credible witnesses, that the arbitrators had been guilty of gross corruption or partiality, in the cause in which they had made their award.

The Regulations made by Lord Cornwallis in 1787 included a provision for arbitration with the consent of parties, but, there were no provisions for the consequences of the award not being made in time, nor for the situation, when arbitrators differed in their opinions.4

1. Sircar Law of Arbitration in British India, (1942), p. 6.

2. Sircar Law of Arbitration in British India, (1942), p. 6.

3. Sircar Law of Arbitration in British India, (1942), p. 6.

4. Sircar Law of Arbitration in British India, (1942), p. 6.