VIII. Total Value of the Regular Suits Depending at the end of the Year.

IX.-Appellate Jurisdiction over the several classes of Native Judges.

2,071,369

CIVIL JUSTICE: MADRAS GOVERNMENT.

The European Provincial Courts having been abolished in 1842, I do not see any practical advantage in inserting the returns from those courts for 1841 and 1842. The returns from the Madras Government are more elaborate than those from the other Governments; but they differ much in form and character, and do not admit of ready comparisons with them; they are wanting also in a compendious review of the whole current business of each year; want also a return of the duration of suits, and the value of property litigated, and returns of the original suits before the Principal Sudder Ameens. On the other hand, there are returns of appeals from court to court, instead of the compendious Table V of the Bengal returns.

The following is the jurisdiction of the courts as now constituted under the Madras Government. The Village Moonsiffs exercise jurisdiction to the amount of 10 rupees (17.,) without institution fee or appeal. The District Moonsiffs to the extent of 1,000 rs. (1007.), with fees and appeal. The Sudder Ameens in reference to the extent of 2,500 rs. (2501.). The European Registers to the extent of 3,000 rs. (3007.) The Principal Sudder Ameens (natives), and Assistants, and Auxiliary Judges (Europeans), to the extent of 5000 rs. (500l.). The Zillah Courts have power to a greater extent. Appeals exist from all these Courts to the Supreme or Sudder Court. From the character of the returns above noticed I cannot enter into details or contrasts and whether the several courts have or have not got through their annual original and appeal business I cannot tell, for the numbers depending at the commencement of each year are nowhere given. If Table V be intended to show the amount of business done respectively by the European Judges and by the Native Judges for the years 1841 and 1842, then all the tribunals determined 133,280 suits; the European tribunals 3830, and the Native 129,450; the former performing 2.87 per cent. of the business, and the latter 97.13 per cent.

I.-Original Suits on the Files of the Village Moonsiff's Courts.

IV.-Suits and Appeals Decided in the several Zillah Courts.

V.-Operations of the European Tribunals in Original Suits.

VI.-Appeals from District Moonsiffs to Sudder Ameens.

VIII.-Appeals from District Moonsiffs to Zillah Judges.

IX.-Appeals from the Sudder Ameens to the Registrars.

XI.-Appeals from Native Judges, or Principal Sudder Ameens, to Zillah Judges.

XIII.-Appeals from Assistant Judges to Zillah Judges.