The Gazetteers Department

Each tahsil has been divided into revenue circles, each in-charge of a Revenue Inspector. Patwaris are appointed for Halkas; each Halka contains on an average three to four villages depending upon the size of the village.

Functions.—Revenue: The Tahsildars' revenue duties are to enquire and report on cases under various Sections of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, now Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, and other Acts to the higher officers who have powers to dispose of the matters. There are certain powers under the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954 and Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966 vested in the Tahsildars under which they themselves can dispose of certain matters.

In regard to the annual demand and collection of land revenue, the Tahsildar has to prepare the jamabandi of the tahsil. The jamabandi is an audit of the previous year's accounts. The demand for fixed agricultural revenue as well as the non-agricultural demand is settled. There are remissions and suspensions to be calculated upon the fixed demand in lean years. Remissions and suspensions are given in accordance with the crop annewari with the determination of which the Tahsildar is most intimately concerned. To the demand of fixed revenue is added the amount of non-agricultural assessment and fluctuating land revenue, such as that arising from the sale of trees, stones, sand, melon beds, etc., when the individuals apply for them.

The Tahsildar has also to supervise and inspect the work of collection of land revenue, tagai dues and other dues recoverable as arrears of land revenue. He can issue notices, impose fines, distrain and sell moveable or immoveable property under the provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954 and Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966. In short, he is to follow the procedure laid down in various Sections of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954 and Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966 and the Rules thereunder.

It is the duty of the Tahsildar to see that there is no breach of any of the conditions of the lease or any irregularities or encroachments upon Government land and to take immediate cognizance in case of such an occurrence.

Applications for grant of tagai are received by the Tahsildar who makes enquiries into them through the Patwaris, inspects the sites for the improvement of which tagai is sought, ascertains whether the security offered is sufficient, determines what instalments for repayment would be suitable, etc. These applications are put before the Tagai Advisory Committee for advice. The final orders regarding the grant of the amount of tagai are passed by the Tahsildar or Naib-Tahsildar as the case may be. Under the provisions of the Agriculturists Loans Act and the Land Improvement Loans Act, there are certain limits up to which the Tahsildar himself can grant the loan. If the granting of the loan is not within his power he enquires into the case thoroughly and submits his report in the case for the orders of the Sub-Divisional Officer or the Collector, whoever is competent to pass final orders regarding the grant of the loan.

The Tahsildar's duties regarding tagai do not end with the granting of it. He has to see that the loan in question is properly utilised, to inspect the works undertaken with it, to watch the payment and to make recoveries from the defaulters. He is primarily responsible for the administration of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act (LXVII of 1948) within the areas under his charge.

Additional Tahsildars and Naib-Tahsildars (Mahalkaris) have been appointed for each tahsil for the work in connection with the implementation of the Tenancy Law. The Tahsildars are in overall charge of the tahsil administration and are not in any way concerned with matters coming under the purview of the Tenancy Law for which Additional Tahsildars and Naib-Tahsildars are appointed.

Quasi-Judicial: In his capacity as a tahsil officer the Tahsildar has to perform multifarious duties. He is to enquire in respect of disputed cases in connection with the Record-of-Rights in each village. The matters which the Tahsildar has to enquire into are registered under appropriate heads mentioned in the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code. 1954 and the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code. 1966.

Magisterial: Every Tahsildar is the ex-officio Magistrate of his tahsil. The Naib-Tahsildars are also appointed as Tahsil Magistrates. They are to hear chapter, cases under the Criminal Procedure Code from various police stations allotted to them. They have to keep the District Magistrate and the Sub-Divisional Magistrates informed of all the criminal activities in their charge and take steps incidental to the maintenance of law and order with the aid of police.

Other Administrative Duties: In addition to the duties mentioned above the Tahsildar is responsible to the Collector and the Sub-Divisional Officer whom he has to keep constantly informed of all political happenings, outbreak of epidemics and other mat-ters, occurring in his tahsil. He generally helps or guides the officers of other departments in the execution of their respective duties in so far as his tahsil is concerned. He is responsible for holding the cattle Census. The Tahsildar is also expected to propagate co-operative principles in his tahsil. The Tahsildar's position in relation to the tahsil officers of other departments, e.g., the Station Officers of the Police Department, the Sub-Registrar, the Range Forest Officer, Medical Officer, Postmaster, etc., is not definable. Though they are not subordinate to him they are grouped round him and are expected to help and co-operate with him in their spheres.

Though the Tahsildar is not expected to work directly for local bodies he is usually the principal source of the Collector's information about them.

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