The Doctrine of Lapse – Lord Dalhousie

Lord Dalhousie was Governor General of India from 1848 to 1856. During this period, he annexed many native states by applying the doctrine of lapse.

So, what was the doctrine of lapse? When the ruler of a protected state died without a natural heir, his / her state was not to pass to an adopted heir as sanctioned by the old tradition of the country. Instead, it was to be annexed to the British dominion if the adoption had not been clearly approved earlier by the British authorities.