Landmarks in Indian legal and constitutional history/ by V. D. Kulshreshtha ; revised by B. M. Gandhi

Legal History is one of the major divisions of legal science. In its general aspect it is concerned with the origins and development of legal institutions, systems, principles and thought about law from the most ancient times. It also includes the study of the historical development of particular legal systems, of particular institutions therein and of particular branches of law. Such particu lar legal history is one of the facets of the general history of the country or community in question, and overlaps on the political, constitutional, social, economic and other facets of that country's history, because facts primarily political, social, economic or other constantly react upon and influence legal development and in turn are influenced by it. Legal History is particularly closely connected with constitutional history; in a broad sense legal history may include constitutional history, but more usually constitutional history is concerned with developments in public law and legal history with develop ments in private law and criminal law. As it is only by examining the origins, course of development and reasons for particular developments, that the true scope and rationale of a particular rule can be found or understood, the study of such particular legal history is not only intrinsically interesting but frequently of practical utility (Walker: Oxford Companion to English Law, 1980, pp. 744-45), Succinctly it should instigate a reader to probe deep into its study.

The British occupation of India between 18th Century and 1947 resulted in political awakening and consequent political unification of India on ideologi cal level. The governmental and legal system created during this time beard heavy influence of English Law and ideas. This book attempts to lay down the major events right from the appearance of the East India Company and before upto independence of India and after.