I was trying to understand how the early English administrators managed to settle disputes in their Indian possessions, mainly in Malabar which came to them in 1792. One of the things they had to handle was the widely prevalent system of slavery in various parts of India, for the prevention/regulation of which they brought in the Regulation X of 1811. This regulation, originally applicable to Bengal, was soon extended to other provinces like Delhi, Bombay and Madras. There were very wide differences in the way this regulation, and the later Felony Act, were applied and their scope explained. I find that there were different courts at various levels which handled them, like the Faujdari Audalat, the Sudder Audalat and then the Nizamat Audalat which appeared to be a higher court of appeal. Above that there was the Governors in Council which decided on legal matters. Can anyone explain what exactly these courts were doing and what were their powers, duties etc in this complex and fledgling legal system in India in the 1800s? Regards to all, Chekkutty.