300 



MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRT DISTRICT. 



Recent 

 History, 



Special 



legislation 



proposed. 



CHAP. XII. objected to do on the ground that it was opposed to Section S, 

 Regulation IX^ 1816, and_, on further reference by Government, 

 declined to reconsider their opinion, but suggested the appoint- 

 naent of a Joint Magistrate. The Government then determined 

 to legislate specially with the object of vesting in one officer, civil 

 or military, the powers of a Collector, Magistrate, and Justice of 

 the Peace, but limiting his civil jurisdiction to the powers of a 

 Commanding Officer under Regulation VII of 1832. The Govern- 

 ment observed that the annual net revenue of the Hills amounted 

 to Rupees 9,427 only, and that it was necessary that the most 

 economical system should be adopted for its realization. More- 

 over the hill tribes, it was noted, were most reluctant to attend the 

 courts in the low country, it being beyond question that they 

 frequently suffered oppression rather than complain to tribunals 

 so distant from their homes. There was no resident European 

 authority on the Hills, except the Commandant ; and, as already 

 stated, his jurisdiction was confined to Ootacamand. By this 

 arrangement collision of authorities was to be avoided, the police 

 and revenue administration improved, and the " concealed 

 resources " of the hills developed. The Foujdari Addlat were to 

 ascertain and report the proper limits of the separate charge to be 

 created. After some further objections on the part of the Fouj- 

 dari Addlat a draft Act was finally submitted to Government. This 

 draft, amended by the omission of mention of Regulation 

 VII of 1832, and the substitution in detail of the civil powers 

 proposed to be conferred on the chief officer, was submitted to the 

 Government of India in July 1836. Among the treasons urged 

 in favor of special legislation were the necessity for controlling 

 servants and of checking the destruction of woods. The Govern- 

 ment remark that the felling of trees on the hills without 

 authority would be attended with very injurious consequences 

 to the low country, as the irrigation of the latter mainly depends 

 upon the springs above, and that, if the wood is cut which shades 

 them, the water would rapidly evaporate. This is the first 

 indication of the care of Government for the woodlands. The 

 Imperial Government, however,^ would not hear of special 

 legislation, being very averse, without the clearest necessity, to 

 the enactment of special penal laws for particular portions of the 

 country, whilst the Nilagiris possessed no such peculiarity in the 

 circumstances of their position or population as to warrant their 

 exemption from the ordinary criminal procedure. They, however, 

 suggested that the Commandant should be invested with the 

 powers of a Joint Magistrate, Deputy Collector, and Assistant 

 Judge. The Sudr Addlat were directed to advise Government, 



Destruction 

 of woods. 



' Lord Aucjkliiad had just succeeded Lord William Bentinok. 



