The Judicial System in British India evolved from 1726 to 1950, beginning under the East India Company and culminating in the Supreme Court. Reforms shaped legal structures, courts, and procedures to address governance and justice needs.

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• The Judicial System in British India began in 1726 with courts in Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta.

• Warren Hastings introduced civil (Diwani) and criminal (Fauzdari) courts under British rule.

• Cornwallis’ reforms (1787-1793) separated judicial and revenue powers for efficiency.

• Charter Act of 1833 led to law codification, forming the Indian Law Commission.

• Indian Penal Code (1860) and Criminal Procedure Code (1861) standardized criminal justice.

• The Indian High Court Act of 1861 replaced Sadar Adalats and Supreme Courts with High Courts.

• Calcutta High Court (1862) was the first; Allahabad High Court followed in 1866.

• The Federal Court of India was established in 1937 for federal legal matters.

• The Judicial System in British India ended in 1950 with the Supreme Court replacing the Federal Court.

• The system improved legal uniformity but was complex, costly, and sometimes slow.