1 ( 5 )
2 be opened for evasion or delay on the part of defendant, and thus renders
3 a decree really valuable to plaintiff as being capable of ready enforce-
4 ment, and gives him his right free from lien, encumbrance, or doubt;
5 yet, on the other hand, prevents the defendant from being hastily dealt
6 with, or from being placed at the mercy of his creditor. We have
7 Small Cause Courts scattered all ofer the country, and several Regular
8 Courts at every central station, so that everywhere justice is near.
9 ‘Our Civil system may appear rough and ready; whether it would be
10 suited to other Provinces in a different stage of civilization, and with a
11 different machinery at command, may be a question. But in the Pun-
12 jab, it attains the broad and plain object aimed at, and, without doubt,
13 gives satisfaction to the people.
14 6. But in order to regulate the Administration of Justice, a complete
15 Preparation of Judi- System of reporting has been established. Month
16 cial Statistics, by month, the Reports of every Court are trans-
17 mitted to the Judicial Department at head-quarters, and are there
18 criticized. At the close of each year, these Reports, and the figures
19 embodied in them, are collated ; averages are struck; Division is com-
20 pared with Division, and District with District. And the general result,
21 with a brief critique by superior authority, indicating the defects to
22 be avoided and the reforms to be emulated, is published for informa-
23 tion of all Officers concerned. It is believed that many improvements
24 in’ the working of the Courts are traceable to this system. Every Court
25 works under a constant sense of supervision, and with the great objects
26 to be aimed at perpetually in view, and standing out in strong relief.
27 It were now well to advert to a few of the most interesting points
28 observable in the statistics that have been collected for the ii 1854
29 and 1855.
30 7. Itwill be remembered that every District is parcelled off into
31 three or four administrative sub-divisions, each
32 presided over by a Native Officer styled Tehseel-
33 _dar, who, among other functions, exercises the powers of a Civil J udge in
34 Small Causes, of which the value is not more than Rupees 300 or £30
35 each. In these Territories there are 104 of these Small Cause Courts ;
36 each Court has, on the average, a jurisdiction of 784 square miles, contain-
37 ing 122,286 souls. . Now the average area of 784 square miles is equal
38 to a tract 28 miles long and as many broad, and the Small Cause Court
39 Small Cause Courts.