The Gazetteers Department

The jurisdiction of the Divisional Commissioner, Aurangabad division, extends over the district of Bhir along with the district of Aurangabad, Nanded, Parbhani and Osmanabad. The Divisional Commissioner is the chief controlling authority for his division. He has to inspect in detail at least two collectorates in a year. Simultaneously he has to inspect-the district treasuries with a view to observing in particular whether the provisions of rules, circulars, standing orders of the finance department and the accountant general are properly followed. He has to verify the balance of cash, stamps, valuables, etc. He has also to inspect at least 20 per cent of the district municipalities and at least one village panchayat in each district.

Among certain major powers exercised by the Divisional Com-missioner, the following may be mentioned:

The powers of the state government are delegated to the Divisional Commissioner under the Hyderabad Land Revenue Rules 1951, to revise the limits of the sub-divisions of the district: He is authorised to sanction reduction of assessment, subject to the minimum of Rs. 1,000, consequent upon the reclassification of agricultural lands. It is the Divisional Commissioner who has to fix priority for famine relief works. He is empowered to write off tagai and other advances up to a limit of Rs. 3,000 in each case and irrecoverable dues up to a sum of Rs. 1,500 in the decrees passed in favour of the Government. He is also held responsible for the maintenance of peace within his jurisdiction.

It is mainly for the Divisional Commissioner to co-ordinate the work of the regional heads in the division. The matters of general administration which require co-operation between the chief executive officers of the Zilla Parishads and the collectors are decided by the Divisional Commissioner. The Divisional Commissioner has by careful vigilance to avoid development of unsavoury relationship between the elected members of the Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis and officials posted under them. It is for the Divisional Commissioner to accelerate the tempo of development work and obtain and release larger funds for actual work effecting economies wherever possible. The Divisional Commissioner is authorised to check any extravagance in the Zilla Parishad administration. The chief executive officers are responsible to the Divisional Commissioner in the matters of the Zilla Parishad in general. Chief executive officers who are the appointing authorities and who have complete administrative control over the matters of the district services have to seek guidance from the Divisional Commissioner concerned whenever difficulties arise in those respects.