Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The British legal sc

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The British legal scholars relied on Indian Pandits and Maulavis for understanding of canons of authoritative texts
Statement-II: British codified the Hindu Laws in 1783 and the Muslim Laws in 1785

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements and the code?

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Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I

Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is NOT the correct explanation of Statement I

Statement I is true but Statement II is false

Statement I is false but Statement II is true

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2017

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Statement I is true; during the early period of British rule, especially under figures like Warren Hastings, British judges and administrators often relied on the expertise of local legal scholars (Pandits for Hindu law, Maulavis for Muslim law) to understand and apply the personal laws and customs of the Indian population. Statement II is false; while efforts were made to compile and understand Indian personal laws early on (e.g., Halhed’s Gentoo Code in 1776 for Hindu law), the systematic codification of laws, including procedural and penal codes, occurred much later in the 19th century (like the Indian Penal Code 1860). There was no formal codification of Hindu Laws in 1783 and Muslim Laws in 1785 as standalone legal codes akin to modern statutes.

British relied on Indian legal experts initially, but did not codify Hindu and Muslim personal laws in comprehensive codes in the 1780s.

The reliance on pandits and maulavis led to issues of interpretation, corruption, and inconsistency, prompting later efforts towards more standardized legal procedures and, eventually, formal codification of certain areas of law in the 19th century. Personal laws continued to be administered largely based on scriptural interpretation and custom, with limited codification in specific areas much later.

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