OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION OF MANAGED ESTATES

Managed estates: The Government, on many occasions, takes over the management of the estates of minors, lunatics and persons who are incapable of managing their own property in order to secure due care and management of the estates concerned. There are two pieces of legislation which govern such administrative take-over. One is the Bombay Court of Wards Act (I of 1905) which is a State Act and the other, an Union Act, viz., the Guardians and Wards Act (VII of 1890). In the case of persons incapable of managing their own property, assumption of superintendence of the estates is undertaken only when the estate is encumbered with debt or is mismanaged or has no one capable of taking proper care of it, and Government is of opinion that it is expedient in the public interest to preserve the property of the person for the benefit of his family and the property is of such value that economical management by the Government agency is practicable.

Court of Wards Act: Under the Bombay Court of Wards Act, the Collector of Ahmadnagar is the court of wards within the limits of his jurisdiction. The State Government has, however, powers to appoint, in lieu of the Collector, either a special officer or a board consisting of two or more officers to be the court of wards. Delegation of powers of the Court of Wards to the Collector, Assistant or Deputy Collector is provided for. The court of wards is empowered to assume the superintendence of the property of the land-holder or of any pension-holder who is " disqualified to manage his own property ". Those who are deemed to be disqualified are (a) minors, (b) females declared by the District Court to be incapable of managing or unfit to manage their own property, (c) persons declared by the District Court to be incapable of managing or unfit to manage their own property, and (d) persons adjudged by a competent Civil Court managing their affairs. The court of wards, however, cannot assume superintendence of the property of any minor for the management of whose property a care-taker has been appointed by will or other instruments or under section 7(i) of the Guardians and Wards Act.

Guardians and Wards Act: The details such as annual income and expenditure of the estates which were under management under the Guardians and Wards Act during the years from 1966-67 to 1968-69 are as under:-

The main source of income in almost all the estates was land rent, house rent, and interest on Government securities. The main items of expenditure are maintenance, education of the wards, charges of medical treatment and house taxes.

Estates under Court of Wards Act: There are two estates under the management of the Collector of Ahmadnagar as Court of Wards. The details of these two estates are as under:-

Lands-

The total income and expenditure in respect of these two estates during 1966-67 to 1968-69 was as under:-

There is a special staff of one Awal Karkun, one clerk and an attendant for the management of estates under both the Acts.

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