The British came to India to trade. It was on 31st December 1600 that the East India Company formed by some merchants of London secured from Queen Elizabeth a royal charter. The charter granted to the Company monopoly rights of trade with India and some areas of South East Asia for an initial period of 15 years. It laid down the constitution, powers and privileges of the Company. Each year all the members of the Company were to elect one governor and 24 one-man committees. The management of the Company was entrusted to these 25 men in England. Subsequently, these committees came to be called Directors and the court of directors was born. The Governor and the company could make laws for ensuring good governance of the company, regulating its business and maintaining discipline among its servants. But the legislative power of the company was very limited. They could not make any laws contrary to the laws, conventions and precedents in Britain.
The powers and privileges of the company were enlarged by each subsequent charter. By the year 1700, the company had established its factories (trading centres) and chief settlements at Bombay, Madras and Calcutta. By the Charter of 1669, the island and port of Bombay were entrusted to the company at an annual rental of Sterling Pounds 10. Simultaneously, the company was given the power to make necessary laws and issue ordinances for the good government of Bombay and its residents. Thus for the first time in 1669 the company acquired the authority to rule over a definite territory and its people. From a mere trading company, it became a ruler. In 1677 the company was given the right to issue its own coins. The 1683 Charter empowered the company to declare war and enter into treaties subject to the proviso that the company itself could not assume sovereign powers over any territory. Whatever territories were acquired by the company or came under his control, were all for the British Crown with the Company acting as its representative.
The Charter of 1726 empowered the Governors-in-Council of the three Presidencies of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta to make bye-laws rules and ordinance in conformity with English laws and subject to approval by the Court of Directors. English laws were expressly introduced and Mayor's Courts established in the three Presidencies by the 1726 Charter.
The taking advantage of the weakening central authority, disintegration of the Mughal Empire and disturbed conditions all over the country after Aurangzeb's death (1707), the company gradually emerged as the dominant power. The viceroy of the company at the battle of Plassey in 1757 against Sirajuddaulla, Nawab of Bengal, clinched the issue and the foundation of British rule in India was laid. In 1764 the combined forces of Mughal Emperor Shah Alam and the Nawabs of Oudh Bengal were defeated by the company at the battle of Buxar. This left the company in full control over Bengal. In 1765, Shah Alam entrusted the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to the company which meant that the company acquired full powers of land revenue collection and administration of civil justice while the responsibility of administration, maintenance of law and order and criminal justice remained with the Nawab. The dyarchy which prevailed during 1665-1772 proved disastrous and led to the appointment of an inquiry committee by the British House of Commons. The committee recommended the need for regulating the activities of the company. The result was the Regulating Act of 1773.
The powers and privileges of the company were enlarged by each subsequent charter. By the year 1700, the company had established its factories (trading centres) and chief settlements at Bombay, Madras and Calcutta. By the Charter of 1669, the island and port of Bombay were entrusted to the company at an annual rental of Sterling Pounds 10. Simultaneously, the company was given the power to make necessary laws and issue ordinances for the good government of Bombay and its residents. Thus for the first time in 1669 the company acquired the authority to rule over a definite territory and its people. From a mere trading company, it became a ruler. In 1677 the company was given the right to issue its own coins. The 1683 Charter empowered the company to declare war and enter into treaties subject to the proviso that the company itself could not assume sovereign powers over any territory. Whatever territories were acquired by the company or came under his control, were all for the British Crown with the Company acting as its representative.
The Charter of 1726 empowered the Governors-in-Council of the three Presidencies of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta to make bye-laws rules and ordinance in conformity with English laws and subject to approval by the Court of Directors. English laws were expressly introduced and Mayor's Courts established in the three Presidencies by the 1726 Charter.
The taking advantage of the weakening central authority, disintegration of the Mughal Empire and disturbed conditions all over the country after Aurangzeb's death (1707), the company gradually emerged as the dominant power. The viceroy of the company at the battle of Plassey in 1757 against Sirajuddaulla, Nawab of Bengal, clinched the issue and the foundation of British rule in India was laid. In 1764 the combined forces of Mughal Emperor Shah Alam and the Nawabs of Oudh Bengal were defeated by the company at the battle of Buxar. This left the company in full control over Bengal. In 1765, Shah Alam entrusted the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to the company which meant that the company acquired full powers of land revenue collection and administration of civil justice while the responsibility of administration, maintenance of law and order and criminal justice remained with the Nawab. The dyarchy which prevailed during 1665-1772 proved disastrous and led to the appointment of an inquiry committee by the British House of Commons. The committee recommended the need for regulating the activities of the company. The result was the Regulating Act of 1773.
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