Why do many historians regard Edmund Burke’s prosecution of Warren Hastings as unjust?

Many historians regard Edmund Burke’s impeachment of Warren Hastings as an injustice for several key reasons:

• Misplaced Responsibility: While historians generally acknowledge Burke’s sincerity and moral concern regarding British conduct in India, they often argue that he attempted to pin the systemic evils of the East India Company’s administration on a single individual, and that Hastings was the wrong target.12
• Nature of the Prosecution: The trial, which lasted from 1788 to 1795, is frequently viewed as a long-drawn-out and harsh ordeal. Although Hastings was ultimately acquitted, the process was a "kind of very rough justice" that left him embittered.12
• Burke’s Personal Conduct: Critics note that Burke’s political positions were sometimes marred by errors in judgment and gross distortions. During the proceedings, his speeches occasionally descended into violent emotion and abuse, lacking the restraint and proportion expected in such a significant parliamentary action.3

Ultimately, while the impeachment helped establish future standards for British rule in India, Hastings was largely seen as an inevitable target for Burke’s assertion of principle due to his deep identification with the Company’s rule.12