Consider the following statements regarding the Doctrine of Lapse: ...
Option c is correct
- Statement 1 is incorrect: The first victim of the Doctrine of Lapse policy was Satara (1848). Appa Sahib, the king of Satara, died without natural heir in 1848. Just before death he had adopted a child but did not seek permission from the company. Jaitpur and Sambhalpur were next victims (1849). Baghat (1850), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853) and Nagpur (1854) also became victim of doctrine of Lapse
- Statement 2 is correct: Though Doctrine of Lapse is attributed to Lord Dalhousie (1848-56), he was not its originator. The Court of Directors of the East India Company had articulated this early in 1834. It was a coincidence that during his tenure, several important cases arose in which the ‘Doctrine’ could be applied. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had annexed a few of his feudatory principalities on account of ‘Lapse’.
- Statement 3 is correct: Karauli was another state annexed by Dalhousie but the court of Directors over ruled his decision and karauli was permitted to nominate her adopted son as the successor king.
Consider the following statements regarding the Doctrine of Lapse: ...
The Doctrine of Lapse was a policy introduced by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856, during the British colonial rule. It aimed at annexing princely states that did not have a male heir or adopted heir, by considering them as lapsed or expired.
Jhansi as the first state annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse:
- Jhansi was indeed the first state to be annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse. Rani Lakshmibai, the queen of Jhansi, had adopted a son, but the British authorities refused to recognize the adoption and annexed Jhansi after the death of the queen in 1858.
Doctrine of Lapse articulated by the Court of Directors of the East India Company:
- This statement is incorrect. The Doctrine of Lapse was not articulated by the Court of Directors of the East India Company. It was introduced and implemented by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India, under the authority of the British Crown.
Annexation of 'Karauli' disallowed by the Court of Directors:
- This statement is correct. The Court of Directors of the East India Company disallowed the annexation of 'Karauli' under the Doctrine of Lapse. Karauli was a princely state in Rajasthan, and the British authorities did not annex it despite not having a direct male heir, as the Court of Directors believed that the ruler had made sufficient arrangements for the succession of the state.
Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3 only. Option C is the correct answer.
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