Letter from the undersigned Sirdars, etc. of the Baroda Sate to Philip Sandys Melvill, Agent to the Governor-General of India, Baroda [‎21r] (9/18)

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14. Neither we, nor our followers and dependents, have, ever since the
establishment of this State, been brought within the pale of the ordinary jurisdic
tion, either civil or criminal. It is one of the recognized principles of this State
that no decree of a civil nature can be executed either against our person or our
property, and accordingly we have never been imprisoned, nor has our property
ever been attached, in lieu of our debts. As already stated above, such debts
are sooner or later paid by the Hoozoor from our * nemnook,' in certain propor
tions. In spite of the existence of such practice, the opinion of the present
Ministry seems to have gone somewhat against it. Again, criminal cases of an
ordinary nature against our followers and dependents are always tried by the
Buxee, who, after finding the accused guilty of the charge brought against him,
passes sentence upon him, either of imprisonment or of fine, as the case may be,
and then sends him to undergo it under the superintendence of that Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
whose follower he may be. All appeals against the decisions of the Buxee are
heard and decided by the Hoozoor or the Senaputtee. Again, criminal charges
against ourselves are first submitted through the Buxee to the Hoozoor sircar,
and are then decided by the latter, A similar procedure is observed in the case
of great offences committed by our followers and dependents, and all sentences
passed upon them by the Hoozoor are also undergone under our own superin
tendence. Now, the present Ministry has framed several principles calculated to
abolish and supersede this practice—principles which, if enforced, will prove not
only a deathblow to our honours and dignities, but also a source of indescribable
grief and affliction to our hearts.
Having pointed out the mode of jurisdiction which has hitherto been applied
to us and our followers, we now beg to submit the following references which
will clearly show the nature of the steps which the present Ministry intends to
take in the matter—
1. Paras. 64, 66, and 97 of His Excellency the Dewan's Adminis
tration Report for the year 1875-76.
2. The rules of the 1st June 1877, called the Rules for the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Court.
As we are anxious to bring to your Honour's notice the extent of the loss
which the introduction of the new change will inflict upon us, and also that the
old mode of jurisdiction is in accordance with custom and morality, we beg to
submit the following statements for your Honour's consideration:—
1. The principles recognized by this State are such as are in force in almost
every Native State ; and if the new ones be introduced, the assurances
conveyed from time to time by Her Most Gracious Majesty the
Empress of India and by Her Majesty's Representatives to continue
a Native Administration in this State, will, we are afraid, prove a
dead letter.
2, It is hardly necessary to repeat that we form the military class of this
State, and that we are the descendants of those warriors whose