Coll 30/33 'Persian Gulf, Trucial Coast. Policy of H.M.G. List of Trucial Sheikhs' [‎343v] (686/818)

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V,
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P. 900/22.
Td) Appointment of an Adviser to the Shaikh.
(e) Reformed Courts.
(f) Reforms in connection with the pearl fishery.
(g) Survey.
(h) Public Works.
(i) Education.
(j) Reform of the Waqfs.
I will take the above seriatim.
(a) Before and during the war Bahrain was notorious for its unhealthy climate ;
the stench was indescribable and plague visited it every alternate year. In the
course of years the people of Manama, the chief trading town, had been becoming
more and more enlightened by contact with the outside world. A demand for greater
cleanliness arose, and in spite of the opposition of Shaikh Isa, the demand, backed by
Major Dickson (the 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. ), prevailed and a municipality was established
in 1920. This municipality still exists and in 1927 was followed by the establishment
of another in Muharraq. The two Municipal Councils—the members of which are
partly nominated by the Ruler and partly elected—are presided over by Shaikh
Hamad’s brother. The 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. and the Adviser attend the meetings, but take
little part in the proceedings unless asked for guidance.
In 1920 a considerable part of the population looked upon the Manama
municipality as an objectionable foreign innovation, but it is now recognised as a'
valuable portion of the administration. The Muharraq municipal^ was established
in 1927 in consequence of popular demand, without consulting the 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. .
People recognise that if the municipalities were abolished filth and plague would
return.
The benefit derived from the presence at municipal meetings of the Political
Agent and the Adviser, who have no vote, is to lend a certain decorum to the
proceedings, which otherwise have a tendency to become pandemonium. They do
not interfere unduly, and their complete withdrawal from interest in municipal affairs
would be unpopular.
(b) , (c) and (d) have already been treated in paras. 1 and 5 above.
(e) Major Daly’s report on the state of affairs in 1921 shows the conditions from
which Bahrain was rescued. These conditions were largely due to the lack of any
Court of Law which could deal efficiently with offenders. The minor members of
the Khalifa family terrorised the people just as they wished. The Qadhis were
corrupt or impotent.
A good Court of Law was a crying need, but the difficulty was to find a suitable
magistrate. At first the 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. (Major Daly) sat as adviser to the local
magistrate, but with the arrival of Mr. Belgrave he resigned his position to the latter.
At present there are the following Courts functioning in Bahrain :—
(1) The Joint Court, on which the Ruler and the 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. sit to hear cases
civil and criminal, involving foreign and Bahrain subjects in which the latter
are defendants. There is also a small Joint Court presided over by the
Indian Assistant and a minor A1 Khalifa.
(2) The Political Agent’s Court, for the trial of all cases in which foreigners are
concerned.
(o) 1 he Court of Shaikh Sulaiman, eldest son of Shaikh Hamad, assisted and
advised by Mr. Belgrave, for the trial of Bahrain subjects.
(4) The Small Cause Court, conducted by a minor member of the A1 Khalifa.
In the first case all disputes are referred to one or other of these Courts Thev
usually deal themselves with criminal cases, though a considerable number are referred
to the Qadhis for settlement by the taking of oath. Civil cases, almost without
exception, are referred to the Qadhis, the Majlis al Urfi or the Salifah Court fnr
opinion. Judgment usually follows the opinion.
The indigenous Courts are :—
(a) The Court of the Qadhis—Sunni or Shiah as the case mav be
(b) The Majlis al IJrfi.
(c) The Salifah or Diving Court.
Ihe Qadhis are the usual Islamic Courts having jurisdiction in all personal matters
divorces, inheritances, &c. I hey often advise in criminal matters, but their peculiar
laws of evidence and the sharp differences between Shiah and Sunni make itimnnsaiblp
to hand criminal justice completely over to them. ^
The Majlis al Urfi is ihe Court dealing with the customary law of trade It is the
commercial Court and all disputed commercial cases are referred to it. There are