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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 4, p. 158.

THTE IiVODIAN EJ/PIRE cCHAP. a Government Advocate, besides a Secretary to the local Legis- lative Council. The minor administrations are less fully equipped; but legal advice can be obtained by them through the Government of India, and throughout the Mofussil native Government Pleaders are appointed at the head-quarters of Districts to assist the local executive officers and appear for them before the courts. Sheriffs. There remain to be noticed the three Sheriffs, who are attached to the High Courts at Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay, on their original sides, and are charged with the execution of process, the custody of jurors, and so forth. Each Sheriff is appointed from year to year by the Government on the nom- ination of the court. He is in practice always a non-official of influence and standing. Statistics Statistics of litiga- tion and crime. The following figures will serve to indicate the prevalence of litigation and crime in British India, and the extent to which the courts have been resorted to during the twenty years ending with I901 :- -_ Civil suits. Criminal prose- cutions. Offences. 1881. Total population . . 198,860,606 Total suits instituted . ,431,486 Suits instituted for money or movables . 1,035,391 Rent suits . . 229,870 Title and other suits . 127,384 Miscellaneous . 38,84 Persons tried . . ,099,044 ,, convicted . . 678,42 Total offences committed I6,241 Offences against person or property . . . . 490,398 Offences against other provi- sions of the Indian Penal Code . .. 63,006 Offences against special or local laws . . .. 162,837 Sentences of death . . 474 'Sentences of transportation . 1,319 Sentences of imprisonment . 147,606 Sentences of whipping . 22,629 Sentences of fine . . . 483,541 i891. 221,172,952 1,858,646 1,144,769 537,365 170,511 6,ooi 1,612,819 767,733 10oS2,795 512,318 91,207 *479,270 427 1,872 167,845 19,556 570,827 1(91. 231,90I,127 2,228,556 1,213,o63 746,093 263,985 5,415 1,636,909 863,309 1,12I,531 455,772 Punish- ments inflicted. 95,513 *570,246 500 1,690 160,204 25,941 628,065 * The increase under this head as compared with 1881 is mainly due to greater vigilance in applying sanitary regulations in municipalities, and to the enforcement of fiscal or quasi-fiscal laws, such as the Salt, Excise, and Forest Acts. t This penalty is authorized, in the case of males, for theft and certain other offences.