পাতা:শ্রীরাজমালা (দ্বিতীয় লহর) - কালীপ্রসন্ন সেন বিদ্যাভূষণ.pdf/৪৩১

REGULATION.—XVII. OF 1829. I. The practice of Sati or of burning or burying alive the widows of Hindus is revolting to the feelings of human nature, it is nowwhere enjoined by the religion of the Hindus as an imperative duty, on the contrary a life of purity and retirement on the part of the widow is more especially and preferably inculcated, and by a vast majority of that people throughout India the practice is not kept up nor observed. In some extensive districts it does not exist. In those in which has been most frequent it is notorious that in many instances acts of atrocity have been perpetrated which have been shocking to the Hindus themselves and in their eyes unlawful and wicked. The measures hitherto adopted to discourage and prevent such acts have failed of success, and the Governor-General in Council is deeply impressed with the conviction that the abuses in question cannot be effectually put an end to without abolishing the practice altogether. Actuated by these considerations the Governor-General in Council—without intending to depart from one of the first and most important principles of the system of British Government in India, that all classes of the people be secure in the observance of their religious usages so long as that system can be adhered to without violation of the paramount dictates of Justice and humanity—has deemed it right to establish the following rules, which are hereby enacted to be in force from the time of their promulgation throughout the territories immediately subject to the Presidency of Fort William. II. The practice of Sati or of burning or burying alive the widows of Hindus is hereby declared illegal and punishable by the Criminal Courts. First. All zemindars, talukdars and other proprietors of land, whether malguzari or lakhiraj all sardar farmers and under-renters of land of every description, all dependent talukdars, all naibs and other local agents, all native officers employed in the collection of the revenue and rents of lands on the part of Government or the Court of Wards, and all mandals or other headmen of villages are hereby declared especially accountable for the immediate communication to the officers of the nearest Police station of any intended sacrifice of the nature described in the foregoing section, and any zemimdar or other description of persons above noticed, to whom such responsibility is declared to attach, who may be convicted of wilfully neglecting or delaying to furnish the information above required, shall be liable to be fined by the Magistrate or Joint Magistrate in any sum not exceeding two hundred rupees, and in default of payment to be confined for any period of imprisonment not exceeding six months,