2019 · Q6
The Summary Settlement of 1856 was based on which one of the following assumptions?
General KnowledgeHistory of India
- AThe Talukdars were the rightful owners of the land.
- BThe Talukdars were interlopers with no permanent stakes in the land.
- CThe Talukdars could evict the peasants from the lands.
- DThe Talukdars would take a portion of the revenue which flowed to the State.
Explanation
The Summary Settlement of 1856 was ordered by Lord Dalhousie in the newly annexed Awadh. It proceeded on the assumption that the taluqdars were mere interlopers who had acquired their estates by force or fraud and had no permanent stake in the land. On this basis a large number of taluqdars were dispossessed of their estates in favour of village-level proprietors. The dispossession alienated the taluqdars and became one of the major causes of the Revolt of 1857 in Awadh. The settlement did not recognise the taluqdars as rightful owners. Hence option B is correct.