1. Appointment policy:
His policy of appointments to higher posts had two main features:
(i) He allowed most of the Turkish nobles to hold their previous posts
(ii) He assigned high ranks to his own sons and loyal officers to keep control over the administration.
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2. Revolt of Malik Chajju:
Malik Chajju, Baiban’s nephew and feudal lord of Kara in the district of Allahabad revolted. Arkali Khan, the eldest son of Jalal-ud-Din defeated him near Badaun, arrested him and presented him before the Sultan/ King. The king treated him well. His supporters were released.
When his son and the nobles protested against the behaviour of the King, they were silenced by him saying that he was not prepared to shed the blood of the Muslims for the sake of throne. What a contrast in his attitude! He himself had ascended the throne by shedding the blood of several Muslims.
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3. Generosity to the ‘thugs’ and robbers:
Several thugs and robbers operating around Delhi were captured and presented before the King. However, in place of punishing them, the King let them off with a mild warning and sent them to far off places including Bengal.
4. Attack on Ranthambhor:
The Rajput’s offered a stiff resistance when attacked by the King. He returned without capturing it because he thought the conquest would cause huge bloodshed. He did not think the conquest “worth the hair of even one Musalman.” So he ordered his soldiers to retreat.
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5. Generosity to erring nobles:
When Sultan has been campaigning against Ranthambhor, some nobles in a state of drunkenness at a party spoke that they would kill the Sultan. This news reached the ears of the Sultan. He called them to a private audience and instead of punishing them, challenged them for a duel. But when pacified he became satisfied just by turning them out of the court for one year.
6. Kindness to the Mongols:
The Mongols launched a large scale attack on India during the reign of Jalal-ud-Din. There are two versions regarding the invasion. According to one version, the Sultan himself went to fight against them in Punjab and defeated them. They were pardoned and some of them were allowed to settle near Delhi. The Mongols became Muslims and came to be known as ‘Neo Muslims’.
According to another version, the Sultan succeeded in defeating the advance guard of the Mongols and captured many of them. But, afraid to face the main force of the Mongols, he made peace with them. The Mongols withdrew and some of them were allowed to settle in the suburbs of Delhi.
7. Execution of Siddi Maula:
The Sultan came to know that some rebellious chiefs had gone to a ‘faqir’ Siddi Maula to seek his blessings. It is also said that he suspected that they wanted to declare Siddi Maula as the King. It is not clear whether Siddi Maula was innocent or not or that he was a party to the conspiracy against the Sultan.
Nevertheless the Sultan got him trampled under the feet of an elephant. Other conspirators were either exiled or their property was confiscated. After becoming the Sultan of Delhi, this perhaps was the only case where the Sultan acted so sternly.
8. Expeditions:
Two bold expeditions were undertaken by Ala-ud-Din, the nephew and son-in-law of the Sultan. One expedition was to Bhilsa undertaken after seeking permission of the Sultan. Ala-ud-Din plundered Bhilsa and sent a past of the booty to the Sultan. The second expedition to Devagiri was undertaken by Ala-ud-Din without the permission of the Sultan. From this expedition, Ala-ud-Din got huge indemnity, horses and elephants etc. There is no doubt that Ala-ud- Din got enormous wealth from this expedition.
9. Treachery of Ala-ud-Din and murder of Jalal-ul-Din:
Ala-ud-Din, after having defeated the ruler of Devagiri, returned with fabulous wealth. Jalal-ul-Din was beside with joy. However some of his close nobles suspected some foul play but the Sultan paid no heed to them and went to Kara to receive Ala-ud-Din. Ala-ud-Din had hatched a conspiracy and assassinated his uncle-cum-father-in-law treacherously and declared himself the king of Delhi.
In this regard Dr. V.A. Smith has observed, “In fact, his attentions were potent to every body except his doting uncle and father-in- law, who closed his ears against all warnings and behaved like a person infatuated.” Lane-poole has observed that Jalal-ud-Din’s murder was the “most spiteful event” of the Indian history.