What steps were taken by the ‘East India Company to control and regulate the Zamindars and to restrict I their autonomy?
No doubt, the East India Company considered the Zamindars very important. Yet it wanted to control and regulate them. It wanted to restrict their autonomy and that they should submit to the control of the Company. So it took the following steps to tame them: The troops of Zamindars were disbanded. The customs duties were abolished. The courts (cutcheries) of the Zamindars were brought under the supervision of a Collector who was appointed by the East India Company. The power of Zamindars to provide local justice and local police was snatched. The emergence of the collectorate as, an alternative centre of authority restricted the jurisdiction of Zamindars. When a raja failed to pay the revenue, an official of the East India Company rushed to his Zamindari. He had clear instructions to take charge of the District and destroy all the influence and authority of the raja and his officers.
