HIGH COURT OF MADRAS. 



135 



Ameens was changed to District Courts and Subordinate 

 Judges by Act III of 1873. 



Great inconvenience having resulted from the manner in 

 which the Courts of Requests for the recovery of small debts 

 at Calcutta and Madras were constituted,the Governor- General 

 and Council of Fort William and the Governor and Council 

 of Fort St. George were authorized by 39 and 40 Geo. Ill, 

 c. 79, s. 17, to order and appoint in what manner the 

 said Courts respectively should in future be formed, and to 

 what amount in value not exceeding the sum of 400 sicca 

 rupees the jurisdiction of the same should extend, and to 

 frame and make such new rules and orders, and to establish 

 and declare such new modes and forms of proceedings as to 

 them should appear to be necessary and expedient for new 

 modelling, altering, and reforming the constitution of the 

 said Courts respectively. 



Under the authority of this section a proclamation was 

 published at Fort St. George, dated the 29th December 1801, 

 whereby it was ordered that from and after the first day of 

 January 1802 the Court of Requests for the recovery of small 

 debts in and for the Settlement of Fort St. George should 

 cease and determine, and that in lieu and stead thereof 

 there should be and be held a new Court for the recovery of 

 small debts within the limits of Fort St. George, which 

 should be composed of three Commissioners, being British 

 subjects* - residing within the limits of Fort St. George, and 

 should be called " The Court of Commissioners for the 

 recovery of small debts," and that the jurisdiction of the new 

 Court and the Commissioners thereof should extend to the 

 sum of 120 pagodas and no more, and that the said Court 

 should have full power and authority to hear and determine 

 all and all manner of debts and demands so as they should 

 not exceed the said sum of 120 pagodas, and should issue 

 process to compel the appearance of parties and witnesses, and 



