Proceedings of the Committee of Revenue, 7th December-20th December, 1784

About this text

Introductory notes

The early records preserved in the West Bengal State Archive pertains to the administration of the land revenue system by the East India Company. The Company attained the revenue rights of the Province through the Grant of Diwani in 1765. The records in the repositories of the Archive date back to the Select Committee Records in 1768. Between 1769 and 1786 the revenue administration was managed by various intermediate agencies like the Resident at the Durbar, Provincial Council of Revenue, the Calcutta Committee of Revenue. In the early the revenue administration was managed by various intermediary agencies, these committees reflect the early experiments and confusion of the East India Company over revenue collection.

On 1781 the Court of Directors decided to centralise the Committee of Revenue based in Calcutta. The office of the Provincial Councils were abolished on February 9, 1781. The Committee of Revenue was placed in full control aided by a Diwan. Collectors were appointed under the Diwan at various districts. The new Collectors were mere figure-heads, and zamindars were encouraged to pay their revenue direct into the Khalsa or Exchequer at Calcutta. The Committee of Revenue continued to operate till it was replaced by the Board of Revenue in 1786.

Selection details

On 1781 the Court of Directors decided to centralise the Committee of Revenue based in Calcutta. The office of the Provincial Councils were abolished on February 9, 1781. The Committee of Revenue was placed in full control aided by a Diwan. Collectors were appointed under the Diwan at various districts. The new Collectors were mere figure-heads, and zamindars were encouraged to pay their revenue direct into the Khalsa or Exchequer at Calcutta. The Committee of Revenue continued to operate till it was replaced by the Board of Revenue in 1786.

1.

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1.1. Particulars relative to the disputed boundaries of Lushkerpore, delivered in by the Vakeel of that Pergunnah

1st-The villages of Gungapershaud, Maghdeear and Phoolbarry & ca in the Pergunnah of Lushkerpoor were in 1171 to 1173 carried away by the encroachments of the River and gradually accumulated into a Bank, in 1185 the Ryots of Lushkerpore having brought it into cultivation were in possession of it, but 1186 Rajeshahy People disputing their right, [Page 159] Derpenarain was appointed aumeen by the Provincial Council of Moorshedabad to the spot and made thorough investigation; he fixed a land mark at the boundaries of Lushkerporre in the presence of both parties & put the Lushkerpore people in possession sometime after the Rajeshahy people pulled up the land mark and are now forcibly occupying the Land.

2nd- The Maza of Deear Kishwerpoor in the above Pergunnah was by degrees from 1176 to 1180 BS washed away and by 1181 gradually deposited in an alluvion which was contended for by the Raujeshahy people; and in consequence thereof Chundy Churn was appointed aumeen 1187 by Government and proceeded into the Country, where on an enquiry it was proved to be within the limits of Lushkerpore and he accordingly placed a land mark there, and put the Lushkerpore people in possession but now the Rajeshahy officers unwarrantedly with hold it from them.

[Page 160]

3rd- The Raujeshahy people from the Bengal year 1190 have plundered and possessed themselves of the Golah or Corn market of Pirozpore the village of Cowalbereah.

4th- Hejerapatty Chunder Sheker and Braminparah were washed away by the irruptions of the river and again deposited in a Bank which the Raujeshahy people have taken possession of.

5th Shekunderabad Neerschundpoor &ca were destroyed and accumulated by the river and the Raujeshahy people have now unjustly taken possession thereof.

6th In 1191 BS the Raujeshahy people erected a new corn market called Hooer Gunge adjoining to that of Zindehpore in Lushkerpore and thereby greatly prejudice it.

7th The Turrifs of Shah Saul and Gobindnugger &ca in Lushkerpore were washed away in 118 and reposited in an alluvion and the people of Deb Ray and Neelkunt Roy including it in the village of [Page 161] of Dabynagar possess themselves of it.

8th The people of the late Dyaram Roy annexing the alluvion of Deear Shahpore &ca to Selumpore keep possession of it.

G C Meyer

1.2.

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1st- That Mr Duncan do ascertain if any inquiry was made Durpnarain aumeen, and decision passed and that [Page 162] such decision as far as relates to the possession of the disputed lands be confirmed unless suspended by subsequent orders, if no enquiry was made or decision passed that Mr Duncan ascertain in whose possession the Land was and has been since the year 1186.

2nd- That the enquiry and decision upon this be conducted on similar principles.

3rd- That on proof of Plunder restitution be made, and that the possession be ascertained.

4th & 5th That Mr Duncan do ascertain the lands were farmed by the alluvion of the River and that possession in case they have long been formed be the Rule of Decision, otherwise the Custom of the Country.

6th That Tact and its consequences to be ascertained and the claims of both Parties be examined.

7th & 8th- To be enquired into and ascertained on the Preceding principles.

This is a selection from the original text

Keywords

aumeen, corn, plunder

Source text

Title: Proceedings of the Committee of Revenue, 7th December-20th December, 1784

Original date(s) covered: 1784

Provenance/location: This text was transcribed from manuscripts at the West Bengal State Archives. Original date(s) covered: 1784

Digital edition

Language: English

Selection used:

  • 1 ) pages 158 to 161
  • 2 ) pages 161 to 162

Responsibility:

Texts collected by: Ayesha Mukherjee, Amlan Das Gupta, Azarmi Dukht Safavi

Texts transcribed by: Muhammad Irshad Alam, Bonisha Bhattacharya, Arshdeep Singh Brar, Muhammad Ehteshamuddin, Kahkashan Khalil, Sarbajit Mitra

Texts encoded by: Bonisha Bhattacharya, Shreya Bose, Lucy Corley, Kinshuk Das, Bedbyas Datta, Arshdeep Singh Brar, Sarbajit Mitra, Josh Monk, Reesoom Pal

Encoding checking by: Hannah Petrie, Gary Stringer, Charlotte Tupman

Genre: India > official correspondence > state archives > West Bengal

For more information about the project, contact Dr Ayesha Mukherjee at the University of Exeter.

Acknowledgements