The tendency for increased litigation was visible after the introduction of the land settlement system of Lord Cornwallis in 1793. The reason for this is normally traced to which of the following provisions?

The correct answer is D because the primary reason for the surge in litigation after the 1793 Permanent Settlement was the removal of Court Fees and the abolition of the post of Collector as a judge. Under the reforms of Lord Cornwallis, the executive was separated from the judiciary. By making justice theoretically free and accessible by removing court fees, the government unintentionally encouraged people from all walks of life to file lawsuits. Additionally, the new system allowed the right to appeal to higher courts, which prolonged legal battles. The options provided do not capture these specific administrative and procedural changes. Option A actually made the Zamindars position more precarious regarding timely payments, while Option B and C are general structural facts that do not directly explain the specific explosion in the number of court cases. Therefore, the actual cause for increased litigation was the procedural change in the judicial administration rather than the land settlement provisions themselves.