HIGH COURT OF MADRAS. 



131 



like nature. 94 These provisions continued in force till 1861, 

 when they were repealed by the Indian Councils Act (24 and 

 25 Vic, c. 67), which restored to the Governors in Council of 

 Madras and Bombay, with some considerable modifications, 

 their power to make laws and regulations for their respective 

 Presidencies. 



By the Madras Regulations made under the Statute 39 

 and 40 Geo. Ill, c. 79, s. 11, Zillah Courts were estab- 

 lished for the trial of civil suits, with four Provincial 

 Courts of Appeal, and a Sudder Adawlut or Chief Court of 

 Civil Judicature, consisting of the Governor and the other 

 Members of the Council of Fort St. George, for trying appeals 

 from the decisions of the Provincial Courts of Appeal. An 

 appeal also lay from the Sudder to the Governor- General, 

 though, under Bengal Regulation II of 1801, he had ceased 

 to be a Member of the Court of Sudder Dewanny Adawlut, 

 and to exercise any judicial control over the Courts in Ben- 

 gal. Magistrates and Assistant Magistrates were appointed, 

 and four Courts of Circuit, with an appeal to the Foujdary 

 Adawlut or Chief Criminal Court, were established for the 

 trial of persons charged with crimes. 95 



For the trial of small causes Native Commissioners, 

 afterwards converted into District Munsif s, were appointed ; 96 

 and the Registers of the Zillah Courts were authorized to try 

 such suits, original or on appeal, from the Native Commis- 

 sioners* as might be referred to them by the Judges, when 

 the property in dispute did not exceed a limited amount. 97 

 A few years afterwards Head Native Commissioners or 



94 Section 43. The Indian Law Commissioners were appointed under 

 section 53 of the same Act, and pu Wished several valuable reports and a 

 proposed Penal Code commonly known as Macaulay's Code. 



93 Regulations I to VIII of 1802. The administration of justice had previ- 

 ously been vested in the Collectors of the Revenue, Regulation II of 1802. 



"Regulation XVI of 1802, X of 1809, VI of 1816, II of 1821, III of 

 1833, and Act III of 1873. 



97 Regulation XII of 1802, VII of 1809, II of 1821, III of 1833. 



