!['Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎43r] (90/502)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x000381/Mss Eur F126_78_0090.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎43r] (90/502)")
'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [43r] (90/502)
The record is made up of 1 volume (249 folios). It was created in 1 Nov 1873-14 Feb 1874. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
1
?v
O /
SCHEDULE II., C ase N o . 4.
SCHEDULE III., C ase N o. 10.
SCHEDULE III., C ase N o . 14.
Complaints of certain
The general complaint in this group of cases is, that the Vahivatdars, or
chief executive officers of districts, after having paid considerable sums of money
as gratification to various
Durbar
A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
Officials for their appointments, have been
summarily, and often not long after nomination, displaced, without just cause,
and without refund of the sums so paid.
The evidence given before the Commission in this group of cases may be
summarised thus:—
I. — Case No.4,
1. Jethabhai Dallabhai states that in 1872, he agreed to take the Vahivat
of Kheiralu Mahal for 5 years. The Revenue exceeds two
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
. He promised
to pay Ks. 1,000 annually more than had been levied in the previous year. This
amount was to be realised from ryots, who had unauthorisedly cultivated land,
and who held waste land without paying for it. He paid E,s. 10,000 to Nana
Saheb to induce him to give him the Vahivat. This sum was to be paid in one
year, in consideration of deponent keeping the office for the five following years.
He paid Rs. 5,000 in cash at once, and Rs. 5,000 two or three months after.
No entry was made in any account book and no receipt was given. He got his
acquittance from Nana Saheb and went to his Mahal. Six or seven months
after a new Vahivatdar was appointed, and deponent was displaced. He could
get no explanation, and accordingly complained to the Resident. The gratifica
tion of Rs. 10,000 was given to the Minister according to the custom of the State.
In addition to the aforesaid sum of Rs. 10,000 to the Minister, deponent paid
Rs. 1,500 to Narayenbhai, the Sir Subah's Karkun, andRs. 500 to one Gopalrao,
the Minister's Karkun,
Vakil
Elected representative or attorney, acting in legal matters such as contracting marriage, inheritance, or business; a high-ranking legal official; could also refer to a custodian or administrator.
of the Petlad Mahal. He signed the agreement,
but from ignorance of the Marathi (Modi) character in which it was drawn up,
cannot testify to the contents. The specified term in this agreement is
but deponent distinctly understood that he was to hold the Vahivat for 5 years,
an annual renewal for the period of 5 years taking place, on the payment at
Baroda of each year's revenue. Deponent has never heard that any complaints
have been lodged against him at Baroda, nor has the
Durbar
A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
ever informed him
that any complaints had been made.
2. The
Durbar
A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
Agent replies, that the Mahal was made over in manage
ment to deponent for one year only, at the end of which time his successor was
appointed; that his case has not been enquired into by the
Durbar
A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
because he
failed to appear, though repeatedly summoned, with proofs of his complaint;
that he embezzled public money, and has not given in the accounts of his Mahal;
that there are now pending against him before the
Durbar
A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
several charges of
bribery and oppression; and that though directed to return to his Mahal, to give
over charge to his successor, he has not done so.
3. The Resident in his final reply to this case, dated 9th January 187 4, remarks,
that the term of tenure, whether the Mahal was let for one year or more, does
not in any way affect the charge of bribery; that the fact of deponent having been
displaced in Zess than a year is no evidence that the fixed term was one year; that
had there been any reasonable hope of settlement of deponent's case, it is most
About this item
- Content
Report of the Baroda Enquiry Commission on the administration of the government of Malharrao, Gaekwar of Baroda. The Commission comprised Richard John Meade (President), Edward William Ravenscroft, Mumtazul Dowlah Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Faiz Ali Khan, Colonel Alfred Thomas Etheridge and Thomas Duncan Mackenzie (Secretary).
The report comprises a letter from the members of the Baroda Enquiry Commission to the Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department presenting their report on the results of the proceedings and submitting copies of correspondence, reports and statements relative to the enquiry (ff 5-19):
Appendix A, Part I
- Schedules I-III: Complaints and grievances against the Gaekwar's Government from individuals and groups (ff 21-78).
- Appendix B, Schedules I-III: Cases of complaint and grievance which the commission did not look into during the enquiry (ff 79-81).
- Appendix C: Letter from Colonel Richard John Meade, President, Special Commission of Enquiry on Baroda Affairs, to Colonel Robert Phayre, Resident at Baroda, 1 November 1873 (ff 82-83).
- Appendix D: Translation of an amended notice issued by the Resident to complainants desirous of appearing before the Baroda Enquiry Commission (ff 84-85).
- Appendix E: Schedules presented to the Commission along with Colonel Phayre's introductory statement regarding them. (ff 86-131).
- Appendix F: Letter No. 1128 of 1873 from Colonel Phayre to the President, Baroda Commission regarding the cases already submitted to the Commission, the List of undisposed petitions to be attended to by the Resident which could be used as additional cases if required and the statements that he had yet to make on cases under enquiry by the Commission (ff 132-133).
- Appendix G, Schedule I: Statements from witnesses with cross examination statements from the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). on behalf of the Gaekwar and statements from the Resident as to the accuracy of the information provided (ff 134-229).
Appendix Part II (ff 231-245)
- Letter from James Braithwaite Peile, Acting Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Kattywar [Kathiawar] to T D Mackenzie, Secretary, Baroda Commission, 13 December 1873 regarding papers requested by the Commission and informing them that the outstanding paper will be forwarded as soon as they are received. Enclosed with the letter are a memorandum from Peile for reconstitution of His Highness the Gaekwar's Contingent in Kattywar, 13 December 1873 and Rule for the guidance of the Officers and Kamdars appointed to the Contingent of Horse of His Highness the Gaekwar, serving in the various Tributary Mahals according to treaty.
- Letter from Peile to Mackenzie, 6 January 1874, forwarding a report and returns received from Colonel Walker, Superintendent to the Gaekwar's Contingent in Kattywar and stating that he does not concur with the Colonel's opinion. Enclosed with this letter is a letter from Colonel Chamberlen William Walker, 30 December 1873, providing the information on the Contingent requested by the Commission and enclosing an extract of the Contingents annual report for 1871 and a statement of the men within the Contingent on duty under officials paid by Talukdars etc, 06 March 1872.
- Letters from John Whaley Watson, Acting Political Superintendent Pahlanpur [Palanpur], Captain Henry Nicholas Reeves, Acting Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. Rewa Kanta [Rewa Kantha] and Major Philip Harrison Le Geyt, Acting Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Mahi Kanta [Mahi Kantha] to the secretary of the Baroda Commission 19 December 1873 to 9 January 1874 reporting on the Gaekwar's contingents serving within their districts and commenting on numbers of men, pay and conditions. The letters all refer to enclosed returns, but only the return for Mahi Kanta is included in the report.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (249 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main sequence of foliation consists of a small pencil number in the top front right hand corner of each folio enclosed in a circle.
There is also an original sequence of foliation which consists of larger pencil numbers also in the top front right hand corner of folios, however the sequence is not consistent and some of the numbers may be filing references rather than foliation numbers.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [43r] (90/502), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/78, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023442806.0x00005b> [accessed 16 August 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023442806.0x00005b
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023442806.0x00005b">'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎43r] (90/502)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023442806.0x00005b"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x000381/Mss Eur F126_78_0090.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x000381/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F126/78
- Title
- 'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:248v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence