Doctrine of Lapse

The doctrine of lapse was an annexation policy that was started by the British East India Company before the independence of India period in the subcontinent of India majorly in princely states.  The doctrine of lapse was completely a concept made by the East India company .   This was a strategy of the Britishers to expand their empire in India during colonial rule. According to the Doctrine Of Lapse, any ruler of any region with no son needed to ask the Britishers whether they can adopt one or not for a succession of their empire. With this, the policy also stated that the adopted son can only possess the properties of the stepfather but won’t have any rights over the state or region. 

Doctrine of Lapse 

The doctrine of lapse was an annexation policy that was started by the British East India Company before the independence of India period in the subcontinent of India majorly in princely states.  This was a strategy of the Britishers to expand their empire in India during colonial rule. 

According to the Doctrine of Lapse, any ruler of any region with no son needed to ask the Britishers whether they can adopt one child or not for a succession of their empire. With this, the policy also stated that the adopted son can only possess the properties of the stepfather but won’t have any rights over the state or region. For instance, the stepson of Rani Laxmi Bai was not allowed to rule Jhansi.   The Britishers stated that this policy was based on Hindu law, according to Hindu law, the adopted child can have the right over all the properties of the stepfather including the rights over the state too. And in contrast the doctrine of lapse Policy didn’t allowed the step child to have possession over the state  Therefore, this policy was considered inconclusive from this point of view. Lord  Dalhousie had annexed a total of eight states under the doctrine of lapse policy. This policy was in force till 1859 after two years of the end of East India Company rule. The doctrine of lapse was a Strategic measure taken up by Britishers to expand their powers and rule in the Indian subcontinent. 

The History Behind Doctrine of Lapse 

At the time of adoption of this policy, the East India Company had an imperial form of administrative jurisdiction in some subcontinents of India at that time. As per the rules of the doctrine of lapse the East India company had conquered states like Sambalpur, Satara, Jaipur, Jhansi, Nagpur, Udaipur, and Tore. Awadh was a state widely believed to be annexed under the policy of the doctrine of lapse. Though it was annexed by Lord Dalhousie and this annexation was termed as due to misgovernance. The annexation and doctrine of lapse policy had made lots of problems and uneasiness among the ruling princes in India. 

Lapse Of Paramountcy 

 This policy was announced by the Britishers in 1858 under the 7(i)(b) Act. In this policy Britishers showed themselves as paramount and superior, they thought, as a result, Indian rulers will feel as inferior and will leave their ruling powers but nothing like this happened in contrast the freedom fighters of India started the revolt against the Britishers. 

Conclusion 

This article was completely brief on the doctrine of lapse policy that was present in India during colonial rule. The doctrine of lapse policy was a Strategic measure taken up by the East India company to increase their territory of rule and power in the Indian Subcontinent.   As per the rules of the doctrine of lapse the east India company had conquered states like Sambalpur, Satara, Jaipur, Jhansi, Nagpur, Udaipur, Accrot, and Tore. Awadh was a state widely believed to be annexed under the policy of the doctrine of lapse.