Doctrine of Lapse

Notes

The Doctrine of Lapse was applied by Lord Dalhousie (Governor-General, 1848-56). If the ruler of a dependent Hindu state died without a natural male heir, the state "lapsed" (passed) to the Company; an adopted son could inherit private property but not the state, unless the British consented. The doctrine had been used earlier in smaller cases (Mandvi 1839, Kolaba and Jalaun 1840, Surat 1842).

Dalhousie's classification of states

Independent states (not under the Company): the doctrine did not apply.
States created or revived by the British: adoption was not permitted; the state lapsed if there was no natural heir.
States dependent on the Paramount Power (Company): adoption needed prior permission; the Company could refuse.

States annexed by lapse

Satara (1848), Jaitpur and Sambalpur (1849), Baghat (1850), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853) (Rani Lakshmibai's adopted son Damodar Rao refused), Nagpur (1854); Karauli (1855), later restored by the Court of Directors.
Awadh (1856) was annexed on grounds of misrule, not by lapse.
The titles of the Nawab of the Carnatic and the Raja of Tanjore were abolished (1855); the pension of Nana Saheb, adopted son of the last Peshwa Baji Rao II, was stopped (1851).

Consequences

It created deep resentment among princes and their dependants, and was among the political causes of the Revolt of 1857 (Rani of Jhansi and Nana Saheb joined the rebels).
After 1857, the Queen's Proclamation (1858) abandoned the doctrine; Lord Canning recognised the right of adoption through sanads.

Dalhousie's other work: the first railway line (Bombay-Thane, 1853), telegraph (1851-52), the Post Office Act (1854), Wood's Despatch (1854) on education, the Public Works Department, Widow Remarriage Act (1856) (passed under Canning's administration, prepared in Dalhousie's time), and annexed Punjab (1849), Lower Burma (1852) and Sikkim (1850).

Key Points

Dalhousie (1848-56); dependent Hindu states with no natural male heir lapsed.
Annexed: Satara (first, 1848), Sambalpur, Udaipur, Jhansi (1853), Nagpur (1854).
Awadh was annexed for misrule (1856).
Resentment contributed to the Revolt of 1857.
Abandoned by the Queen's Proclamation (1858).

MCQs

Q1. The first state annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse by Dalhousie was: (a) Jhansi (b) Nagpur (c) Satara (d) Awadh Ans: (c). 1848.

Q2. Which state was annexed on the ground of misrule, not lapse? (a) Jhansi (b) Awadh (c) Nagpur (d) Satara Ans: (b). 1856.

Q3. The Doctrine of Lapse was abandoned after the Revolt through: (a) The Government of India Act, 1858 (b) The Queen's Proclamation, 1858 (c) The Indian Councils Act, 1861 (d) Charter Act of 1853 Ans: (b). Canning recognised the right of adoption.