Bombay Presidency Town Phase 1

1. ISMAILSAHEB MULLA LAW
COLLEGE, SATARA.
NLC II
Shalaka
Pooja

4. King of Portugal
got BOMBAY
ISLAND from
King of Gujarat
Sultan
Bahadurshah.
BOMBAY
ISLAND was
under
Portuguese
possession since
1534.
Later on
Portuguese king
gave the BOMBAY
ISLAND to King
Charles II as a
dowry in his
sister’s Marriage.
CONTINUED…

5. BOMBAY IN HANDS OF EAST
INDIA COMPANY
 KING CHARLES II found it difficult and
uneconomic to govern the BOMBAY
ISLAND.
KING CHARLES II found it difficult and
uneconomic to govern the BOMBAY
ISLAND.
 So he transferred the BOMBAY ISLAND to
EAST INDIA COMPANY at a nominal rent of
€10 per annual.
So he transferred the BOMBAY ISLAND to
EAST INDIA COMPANY at a nominal rent
of €10 per annual.
 In this manner the BOMBAY ISLAND went
into the hands of EAST INDIA COMPANY.
In this manner the BOMBAY ISLAND
went into the hands of EAST INDIA
COMPANY.

6. CHARTER OF 1668
• The King of England CHARLES II transferred the
ISLAND of BOMBAY to the EAST INDIA COMPANY
under the ROYAL CHARTER OF 1668
• Under the CHARTER
[1] THE EMPERIUM POWERS
[2] THE POWERS OF JURISDICTION
Were conferred to the EAST INDIA COMPANY.
• This CHARTER marks the transition of EAST
INDIA COMPANY a TRADING ASSOCIATION to a
RULING POWER.

7. THE GOVERNMENT AT BOMBAY
 From the very beginning the
BOMBAY ISLAND was placed under
control of President Council in Surat.
 But for the proper governance
Deputy Governor in Council was
appointed.

8.  The East India Company issued its First Plan
in the year 1668.
 Under this Plan the Court of Judicature was
established at Bombay.
 It was like an English Court.
 It was empowered to try Civil & Criminal
Cases.

9.  The ISLAND of BOMBAY was been
divided into 2 divisions by Mr.Gerald
Aungir.
MAHIM
PAREL
SION
WORLI
BOMBAY
GIRGAON
MAZGAON

10.  PRESIDING OFFICER ( P.O.)
 PRESIDENT – Custom Officer of each division
was the President of the Court.
 QUORUM – The Quorum was of 3 English
Judges.
 Jurisdiction – Civil cases up to 200 xaraphines
(Portugal coins) and Petty Criminal Cases.

11. #####################################

12. • Presiding Officer - George Wilcox
A person educated about Law.
• Jurist - Civil and Criminal
Cases
Cases solved with the help of a
Jury of 12 men.

13. • Under the plan of 1672 The Court of Judicature
was set up at Bombay.
• George Wilcox was appointed to act as a Judge.
• The court was given Jurisdiction in all matters
• All the cases were been decided with the help of
the Jury of 12 men.
• Fee of 5% was charged for every case
determined by the Court.

14.  Under this Plan for Criminal
purposes the Island of Bombay was
divided into 4 divisions :
Bombay
Mahim
Sion
Mazgaon

15. • At each division a Justice of Peace was
appointed.
• These 4 Justice of Peace were not in fact Judges
but they were simply Committing Magistrates.
• The work of the Justice of Peace was to:
• Call upon the Complainant
• Hear the Complainant
• Examine some witnesses upon Oath
• Record the Evidences
• Examine the Accused on the Oath
• And if he found a Substantial truth in Complaint then
he had to submit the case to Court of Judicature.

16.  At the bottom Courts of Conscience
were established.
 Native persons were appointed to
preside over this Court.
 They were to decide Civil Cases up to
20 xaraphines and to hear the
Grievances of the Natives.