The practice of sati was declared illegal by the Bengal Sati Regulation of 1829, passed under Governor-General:

The practice of sati, the burning of a widow on her husband's funeral pyre, was declared illegal and punishable by the courts through the Bengal Sati Regulation (Regulation XVII) of 4 December 1829, passed by Lord William Bentinck, the Governor-General.

About the regulation:

• It made sati a crime, and those who helped or encouraged it were to be punished as guilty of culpable homicide.
• It first applied to the Bengal Presidency, and was extended to Madras and Bombay in 1830.

The role of Raja Rammohun Roy:

• Raja Rammohun Roy campaigned strongly against sati for many years.
• NCERT notes that he wrote pamphlets showing that the ancient texts did not support sati, and that the practice was against true Hinduism.
• NCERT notes that the British officials, influenced by his arguments, were convinced that sati was a crime and should be banned.
• Orthodox Hindus petitioned against the law, and appealed to the Privy Council in London, but their appeal was rejected (1832).
• Rammohun Roy went to England and supported the law.

About Lord William Bentinck:

• He was Governor-General from 1828 to 1835.
• He was influenced by liberal and utilitarian ideas, and believed in reforms.

His other measures:

• Suppression of female infanticide.
• Introduction of English as the language of higher education (1835).
• Reduction of expenses and reform of finances.
• Appointment of Indians to higher posts in the judiciary.
• The founding of the Calcutta Medical College (1835).
• The annexation of Mysore (1831), Coorg (1834) and Cachar.
• His reforms are seen as the start of an age of reform in British India.

Earlier steps:

Some earlier governors had tried to restrict sati, but did not ban it.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Cornwallis, Amherst and Auckland were other Governors-General.