40
As against natives, inhabitants of Calcutta,
the Supreme Court retained its jurisdiction ; but it
was provided that in matters of inheritance and
succession, as well as in matters of contract and
dealing, the Court should be guided by the laws
and usages of the parties; that the rights and
authorities of fathers and masters of families should
be preserved to them in accordance with their
civil and religious usages ; and that acts done in
accordance with the rule or law of caste, respecting
the members of the families, were excluded from
the criminal law,
The most important features of the act were,
however, the recognition by Parliament of the
civil and criminal provincial courts, existing independently
of the Supreme Court; of the Governor-General
and Council, or some Committee
thereof, as the chief appellate court of the country ;
and the vesting the Council with the power to
frame Regulations for those provincial courts, independently
of the Supreme Court. This course
entirely cut away the jurisdiction of the Supreme
Court over natives in the mofussil, and gave a legal
status to the administration thereof, comprising
the Supreme Government and its courts and offices
in the various districts.
Thus.the whole policy of the Regulating Act
was subverted by the amending act of eight years
later ; but the latter act effected a settlement which