ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE

LAND REVENUE AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATIONS

Till 1906, there was only one district, viz., Khandesh district and it consisted of the present Jalgaon and Dhulia districts. The then district consisted of 23 talukas and was therefore large for one officer viz., Collector, to administer efficiently. The district was split up in two districts viz., East Khandesh and West Khandesh in 1906 with their headquarters at Jalgaon and Dhulia respectively. Recently, after the formation of the Maharashtra State these districts are named after their headquarters. The new State of Maharashtra as formed after the break-up of the. bilingual Bombay State came into force on 1-5-1960 has been divided into four divisions, viz., (1) Bombay Division, (2) Poona Division, (3) Aurangabad Division, and (4) Nagpur Division.

Jalgaon district along with Greater Bombay. Thana, Kolaba, Ratnagiri, Nasik and Dhulia districts is included in Bombay Division. This division is placed in charge and control of the officer called " Divisional Commissioner " who is the chief controlling authority in the division in all matters concerned with land revenue.

Commissioner.

The post of the Director of Local Authorities ceased to exist when the Bombay Commissioners of Divisions Act No. VIII of 1958 was made applicable to the State of Bombay and the post of the Divisional Commissioner for the division was created from March 3. 1958 in its place. The Commissioner is the chief controlling authority in the division in all matters connected with land revenue and is responsible for the following:—

(1) Supervision and control over the working of Revenue Officers throughout the division.

(2) Exercise of executive and administrative powers to be delegated by Government or conferred on him by law.

(3) General inspection of offices of all departments within the division.

(4) Inspection of local bodies on the lines done by Directors of Local Authorities in the pre-reorganization State of Bombay.

(5) Co-ordination and supervision of the activities of all divisional heads of departments with particular reference 10 planning and development.

(6) Integration of the administrative set-up in the incoming areas.

During the year 1950 an agreement was effected between the Governor-General of India and the then Nizam of the Hyderabad State, and accordingly 13 villages from Chalisgaon. taluka were transferred to Hyderabad State viz., (1) Narsingpur, (2) Makranpur, (3) Malpur, (4) Vadli Pra. Kannad, (5) Bhokangaon, (6) Palasgaon, (7) Banshendre, (8) Hatnur, (9) Jamdi Pra. Kannad. (10) Chapaner, (11) Jargaon, (12) Chikhalthan and (13) Vithalpur. No villages were transferred in exchange from Hyderabad State to Chalisgaon taluka.

Administrative Divisions

The district now covers an area [The area figure for the district of Jalgaon as supplied by the Surveyor General of India to the Census authorities is 4535.1 square miles. The area figures given by the Census authorities, which are reproduced in this table, were obtained by the Census authorities from the Director of Land Records or from local records.] of 4.535.1 sq. miles and according to the census of 1951 has a population of 11,71.351. The administrative divisions are as under: —

The Collector plays a pioneer role in the administration of the district. Not only is he at the head of the Revenue department in the district, but in so far as the needs and exigencies of the district administration are concerned, he is expected to supervise the working of all the officers of other departments as well.

Collector.

Revenue.—The Collector is the custodian of Government property in land (including trees and water) wherever situated, and at the same time the guardian of the interests of members of the public in land in so far as the interests of Government in land have been conceded to them. All land wherever situated, whether applied to agriculture or other purposes, is liable to payment of land revenue, except in so far as it may be expressly exempted by a Special Contract (vide 45 Land Revenue Code). Such land revenue is of three kinds: (i) agricultural assessment, (ii) non-agricultural assessment and (iii) miscellaneous. The Collector's duties are in respect of (1) fixation. (2) collection, and (3) accounting of all such land revenue. The assessment is fixed on each piece of land roughly in proportion to its productivity. This assessment is revised every thirty years taluka by taluka. A revision survey and settlement is carried out by the Land Records Department before a revision is made, and the Collector is expected to review 'he settlement reports with great care. The assessment is usually guaranteed against increase for a period of thirty years. Government, however, grant suspensions and remissions in bad seasons as a matter of grace and the determination of the amount of these suspensions and remissions is in the hands of the Collector. As regards non-agricultural assessment, section 48 of the Code provides for alteration of the agricultural assessment when agriculturally assessed land is used for non-agricultural purpose. In the same way unassessed land used for a non-agricultural purpose is assessed to non-agricultural rates. All this has to be done by the Collector according to the provisions of the Rides under the Land Revenue Code. Miscellaneous land revenue also has to he fixed by the Collector according to the circumstances of each case, when Government land is temporarily leased. It is also realised by the sale of earth, stones, usufruct of trees, etc., in Government land.

The collection of the land revenue vests with the Collector, who has to see that the due revenue is recovered punctually and with minimum of coercion and that the collections arc properly credited and accounted for.

Statistics of Land Revenue Collections.—The following is the statistics relating to land revenue collections in Jalgaon district for the year 1956-57:—

The Collector is also responsible for the collection of the fees and taxes under various other Acts, such as the Bombay Irrigation Act (VII of 1879), the Indian Stamp Act (II of 1899), the Indian Court-fees Act (VII of 1870), the Bombay Tolls on Roads and Bridges Act (III of 1875), the Bombay Entertainments Duty Act (I of 1923), and the Bombay Prohibition Act (XXV of 1949). There are also other revenue Acts which contain a provision that dues under them are recoverable as arrears of land revenue and the Collector and his establishment have to undertake the recovery of such dues when necessary.

In regard to the administration of the Forest Act, the ultimate responsibility for the administration of the Forest department, so far as his district is concerned, lies with the Collector, and the Divisional Forest Officer is his assistant for that purpose, except in matters relating to the technique of forestry.

As regards the Prohibition Act the Collector has to issue personal permits to liquor and drug addicts and recover the assessment fees from shops permitted to sell liquor and drugs. The Collector of Jalgaon is the Chairman of the Prohibition Committee of the district. In fact he is the agency through which the Director of Prohibition and Excise sees that the policy of the department is carried out.

The administration of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act (LXVII of 1948) in its proper spirit rests with the Collector. He is also an appellate authority to hear appeals under various sections of the Act.

(ii) Inams.—As a legacy of former Governments. alienations of land revenue have taken place in regard to large areas of land in the district. There are also cash allowances settled under various Acts. It is the duty of the Collector to see that the conditions under which these are containable arc observed and that they are continued only to persons entitled to hold them. Recently. how ever, the State Government have inaugurated a policy of abolishing these alienations, and within a few years almost all lands in the district are expected to be assessed to full land revenue. With effect from 1st May, 1951. all Kulkarni Watans along with the right of service have been abolished by the Bombay Pargana and Kulkarni Watans Abolition Act (LX of 1950). By the Bombay Personal Inams Abolition Act (XLII of 1953) which came info lone on 20th June 1953 all personal inams are extinguished in the case of personal inams consisting of exemption from the payment of land revenue only, either wholly or in part, if the amount of such exemption is or exceeds Rs. 5,000 with effect from the 1st day of August 1953 and in all other cases, with effect morn 1st day of August 1955. In Jalgaon district the Bombay Service Inams (Useful to Community) Abolition Act. 1953. came into force since April 1.1954, and the Bombay Saranjam, Jahagir and Other Inams of Political Nature Resumption Rules since 1st November, 1952.

(iii) Public Utility.—The Agriculturists' Loans Act (XII of 1884) and the Land Improvement Loans Act (XIX of 1883) regulate the grant of loans to agriculturists at cheap rates for financing their operations. The Collector has to estimate the needs of his district in accordance with the policy of Government for the lime being and. in the event of a bad season, to make further demands for as much money as can be usefully loaned for the purpose of tiding over the scarcity. He has to take necessary steps for the most advantageous distribution of the amount placed at his disposal and to see that the advances so made are recovered at the proper time.

The Collector of Jalgaon is the Court of Wards for the estates taken over under the Bombay Court of Wards Act (1 of 1905).

(iv) Accounts—The Collector is in charge of the treasury and is personally responsible to Government for its general administration, the due accounting of all money received and disbursed, the correctness of the treasury returns and the safe custody of the valuables which it contains. In matters of accounts and audit, the Collector (with the Treasury Officer under him) is responsible to the Accountant-General whose instructions he has to obey. He does not, however, take part in the daily routine of treasury business. For that work his delegate and representative is the Treasury Officer.

(v) Quasi-judicial functions in revenue matters.—Among the quasi-judicial functions of the Collector on the revenue side, apart from hearing appeals from the decisions of the Prant Officer under the Land Revenue Code and various other Acts, may be mentioned: (1) The revisional powers exercised under section 23 of the Bombay Mamlatdars' Courts Act (II of 1906) in respect of Mamlatdars' orders under the Act (This power is delegated to an Assistant or Deputy Collector). (2) Appellate powers under sections 53 and 67 of the Bombay Irrigation Act (VII of 1879). (3) The work which the Collector does in connection with the execution of Civil Courts' Decrees. (4) Proceedings and awards under section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act (I of 1894).

(vi) Local Self-Government.—In all cases in which the power of passing orders in matters affecting local bodies rests with the Divisional Commissioner or the State Government either the proposals are made by the Collector or they are received by the Divisional Commissioners with the Collectors' remarks. The Collector is entrusted with holding the triennial elections and bye-elections of the local bodies including panchayats. The various Acts governing local bodies give authority to the Collector as the chief representative of Government to supervise the action of local bodies and to give advice. The State Legislature had passed the Bombay Commissioners of Divisions Act (VIII of 1958) according to which powers, operations and functions of the former Directors of Local Authorities ceased to operate since 3rd March, 1958 and their powers and functions are being exercised by the Commissioners of Divisions.

(vii) Officers of Other Departments.—The officers of other departments stationed at the district headquarters can be divided into two groups: (A)—(1) The District judge, (2) The District Superintendent of Police, (3) The Divisional Forest Officer, (4) The Executive Engineer and (5) The Civil Surgeon. (B)—(1) The District Inspector of Prohibition, (2) The Administrative Officer, District School Board, (3) The District Agricultural Officer, (4) The District Health Officer and (5) The Inspector of Sanitation and Vaccination.

(A)—(1) The District Judge has a separate and independent sphere of work, and as Sessions Judge he exercises appellate powers over the decisions of all Judicial Magistrates in the district. The Bombay Separation of Judicial and Executive Functions Act (XXIII of 1951) was enacted to meet a long standing and wide spread public desire for the separation of judicial functions from executive officers. It has separated the magistracy into "judicial magistrates" who are subordinates of the Sessions Judge, and "executive magistrates" who are subordinates of the District Magistrates. It has withdrawn from the Executive Magistrates, practically all powers of trial of criminal cases, and only in certain cases the Sessions Judge has to hear appeals from the decisions of executive magistrates. Before the enactment of this legislation the Sessions Judge used to exercise appellate powers over the decisions, in criminal cases, of the District Magistrate and other First Class Magistrates.

(2) The District Superintendent of Police and the police force of the district are under the control of the District Magistrate in so far as their functions regarding the maintenance of law and order are concerned. As regards discipline, training and other administrative matters they are under the control of the Range Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

(3) The Divisional Forest Officer is regarded as the Collector's assistant in regard to forest administration.

(4) The position of the Executive Engineer is slightly different. Since his work is technical, he is not directly subordinate to the Collector though in a sense he plays a part subsidiary to him in the general administration of the district, of which the Collector is the head. He is expected to help the Collector whenever required to do so. The Collector can ask him to investigate the utility of minor irrigation works likely to he agriculturally useful in the district. According to section 11 of the Famine Relief Code, the Executive Engineer arranges, in consultation with the Collector, for the inclusion, in the programme of expansion of public works, of the plans for special and current repairs to roads and other useful work suitable as security works. The programme of famine relief works is also prepared quinquennially by the Executive Engineer in consultation with the Collector. When the time for actual opening of any work comes, the Collector can requisition the services of the Executive Engineer for making immediate arrangements for procuring the necessary establishment, tools, plants, building materials, etc. (Famine Relief Code, Section 81).

(5) The Civil Surgeon has also a separate and independent sphere of his own, but must place his professional and technical advice and assistance at the disposal of the general district administration whenever required.

(B) The officers in this group arc all of subordinate status whose services can be requisitioned by the Collector either directly in the case of necessity if the matter is urgent, or through their superior officials. The District Inspector of Prohibition and Excise is subordinate to the Collector except in technical matters.

The following are some of the officers of the district who have more or less intimate contact with the Collector in matters relating to their departments and have to carry out his general instructions: —

(1) The District Industrial Officer, (2) the Assistant Director of Backward Class Welfare, (3) the Medical Officer of Health, Jalgaon, (4) the Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies, (5) the Divisional Animal Husbandry Officer, (6) the District Inspector of Land Records and (7) the Assistant Marketing Inspector.

(viii) As District Magistrate.—The Collector's duties as District Magistrate are mostly executive. He is the head of all other executive magistrates in the district. As District Magistrate, besides the ordinary powers of a Sub-Divisional Magistrate, he has the following powers among others:—

(1) power to hear appeals from orders requiring security for keeping the peace or good behaviour (Section 406, Criminal Procedure Code);

(2) power to call for records from any subordinate executive magistrate (Section 435);

(3) power to issue commission for examination of witnesses (Sections 503 and 506), and

(4) power to hear appeals from or revise orders passed by subordinate executive magistrates under section 514—procedure on forfeiture of bond (section 515).

When authorised by the State Government the District Magistrate may invest any magistrate subordinate to him with—

(1) power to make orders prohibiting repetition of nuisance (section 143);

(2) power to make orders calculated to prevent apprehended danger to public peace (section 144), and

(3) power to hold inquests (section 174).

Besides being in control of the police in the district, the District Magistrate has extensive powers under the Criminal Procedure Code, the Bombay Police Act (XXII of 1951) and other Acts for the maintenance of law and order. It is his duty to examine the records of police stations and outposts, in order that he may gain an insight into the state of crime in the limits of the police station and satisfy himself that cases are being promptly disposed of.

In his executive capacity, the District Magistrate is concerned with the issue of licences and permits under the Arms Act (II of 1878), the Petroleum Act (VIII of 1899), the Explosives Act (IV of 1884) and the Poisons Act (I of 1904). He has also to supervise the general administration of these Acts, to inspect factories and magazines, and to perform various other supervisional functions.

(ix) As District Registrar.—As District Registrar the Collector controls the administration of the Registration Department within his district.

(x) Sanitation and Public Health.—The duties of the Collector in the matter of sanitation are: (a) to see that ordinary and special sanitary measures are initiated in cases of outbreaks of epidemic-diseases: (b) to watch and stimulate the efficiency of the daily sanitary administration of municipalities and other sanitary authorities: and (c) to advice and encourage local bodies to improve the permanent sanitary condition of the areas under them so far as the funds at their disposal will allow. He can freely requisition the advice and technical assistance of the Medical Officer of Health, Jalgaon, and the Assistant Director of Public Health, Poona, in this regard.

(xi) District Development Board.—Prior to 1952, there was a District Rural Development Board. The District or Divisional Officers of various departments concerned with rural development, members of the State Legislature and other representatives of rural areas constituted the District Rural Development Board.

With a view to co-ordinating the activities of the various non-statutory boards and committees in the district, the former District Rural Development Board was reconstituted in 1952 as District Development Board, by amalgamating all existing nonstatutory boards and committees with it. The Constitution of the District Development Board is as below:—

(a) There are 59 members on the Board including:

(1) 17 District or Divisional Officers.

(2) 12 Members of the Legislative Assembly.

(3) 2 Members of the Legislative Council.

(4) 1 Member of Parliament.

(5) 27 other non-officials.

(b) The Collector is the ex-officio Chairman of the District Development Board.

(c) The Vice-Chairman of the District Development Board is the Chairman of all the sub-committees except the District Anti-Curruption and District Police Advisory Sub-Committee, of which the Collector is the Chairman.

(d) Formerly a Secretary of the Senior Mamlatdar's rank was appointed and was assisted by a small staff for carrying out the administration of the Board. This post is upgraded and a person of the grade of a Prant Officer is appointed and is designated as District Project Officer.

(e) The below mentioned twelve Sub-Committees are functioning under the District Development Board:—

SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT BOARD, JALGAON.

SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT BOARD, JALGAON—contd.

The functions and duties of the District Development Board are: (1) to advise and help Government in the execution of policies, namely, in respect of matters concerning all the sub-committees, (2) to supervise and co-ordinate the work of its various sub-committees, (3) to supervise and guide the work of Taluka Development Boards and Village Food Production Committees, (4) to elect suit-able agencies for the distribution of iron and steel materials and cement, to allot the materials and to supervise the scheme and (5) to execute such schemes and administer such funds as may be entrusted by Government by specific instructions and orders.

(xii) District Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Board.—The Collector is also the President of the District Soldiers', Sailors'" and Air-men's Board. The Vice-President of this Board is a Military Officer nominated by the Secretary, Maharashtra State Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Board, Poona, and the members of the Board are: (1) the District Superintendent of Police, (2) the Prant Officer, Jalgaon Division, (3) the Prant Officer, Chalisgaon Division, (4) the Prant Officer, Amalner Division, (5) the Regional Director of Employment, Bombay, (6) the Civil Surgeon, Jalgaon. (7) the Administrator. Services Post-War Reconstruction Fund, Poona. (8) the Educational Inspector, Jalgaon, (9) the President, District Local Board. Jalgaon, (10) the non-officials nominated by the Collector with the concurrence of the State Board, and (11) the Officer Commanding Station Headquarters, Bhusawal. An ex-Junior Commissioned Officer serves as the paid Secretary. The duties of the Board are: (a) to promote and maintain a feeling of good-will between the civil and military classes; (b) to safeguard the interest of the families and of ex-servicemen and to serve soldiers, etc., and (c) to implement in detail the work of the Maharashtra State Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Board. This Board supervises over the hostel for the hoys of Displaced Soldiers of World War II at Jalgaon.

(xiii) National Extension Service Blocks.—The Collector is expected to take personal interest in the National Extension Service Blocks opened in this district.

(xiv) Control of essential articles [As a consequence of World War 11 (1939-45) there was scarcity and maladministration of various essential articles, such as food-stuffs, cloth, sugar and kerosene. Government then undertook the control of the prices of these articles and the regulation of their production, supply and distribution. Some of the controls were continued for sonic years after the end of the war, and it was not till 1954 that the control of food-stuffs was removed. In the beginning, the work involved by these controls was discharged by the Officers of the Department of Land Revenue and General Administration. Later, as work increased, special stall and officers were appointed. But the procurement of foodgrains was always entrusted to the revenue officers and the general control over the administration of supply and distribution rested with the Collector of the district and the Mamlatdar or Mahalkari in the taluka or peta. In regard to rationing schemes the Collector was responsible for their proper working and for exercising general supervision over the rationing officers and their staff] .

The Collector's Office.—The Office of the Collector of Jalgaon Office, district is at Jalgaon and is divided into many branches. The Resident Deputy Collector supervises the work of all the branches except the Treasury. He is also the Additional District Magistrate.

The Deputy Chitnis Branch deals with magisterial and political work, the issue of arms and other licences for cinema houses, tea shops, possession of explosives, stamp matters, medical affairs, etc.

The General Branch under the Head Clerk (in the grade of Mamlatdar) deals with municipalities and village panchayats, District Local Board matters, prohibition and excise, public works, execution of civil court decrees, telephones, displaced persons and evacuee property, land acquisition for public purpose and the matters of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee, etc.

The Revenue Branch under the Chitnis (in the grade of a Mamlatdar) deals with matters like land revenue, land grants, watans, cash allowances, establishment, encroachments, dues of co-operative societies, forest matters, audit of village accounts (Jamabandi audit) and inspection of taluka and public offices. The District Registration Office is one of the branches and is in charge of the Headquarter Sub-Registrar. The Accounts Branch of the Collector's office is in charge of the Personal Assistant to the Collector. There are two more branches: (1) Tenancy branch under the control of the Additional Chitnis (in the grade of a Mamlatdar) who deals with tenancy matters, (2) Election branch under Aval Karkun. He deals with general election of the Bombay Legislative Assembly and Court of Wards matters. The tagai matters are being dealt with by the District Development Board.

Prant Officers.

The Prant Officers.—Under the Collector are the Prant Officers who are either Assistant Collectors (Indian Administrative Service Officers) or District Deputy Collectors (Members of the Maharashtra Civil Service). There are in all three such Prants or Sub-Divisions. Each Prant is in charge of an Assistant Collector or a Deputy Collector. In addition to three Prant Officers there is one Resident Deputy Collector and the District Project Officer in the grade of a Deputy Collector, dealing with District Development Board matters.

The Prant Officers form the connecting link between the Mamlatdars or Mahalkaries and the Collector. A Prant Officer exercises all the powers conferred on the Collector by the Land Revenue Code and by any other law in force or by executive orders, in regard to the talukas and mahals in his charge, except such powers as the Collector may specially reserve to himself. His principal functions in regard to his sub-division are—

(i) Revenue.—(1) Inspection and supervision of the work of the Mamlatdars, Circle Officers, Circle Inspectors and Village Officers, including the inspection of taluka kacheris.

(2) Appointments, transfers, etc., of stipendiary village officers and the appointment of hereditary village officers.

(3) Safeguarding Government interest in land by constant inspection dealing with encroachment, breaches of the conditions on which land is held on restricted tenure, etc.

(4) Grant of waste land and disposal of alluvial land.

(5) Leavy of non-agricultural assessment and passing orders regarding miscellaneous land revenue.

(6) Hearing of appeals against the Mamlatdars' decision in assistance suits and watching the execution of assistance decrees.

(7) Hearing of appeals against the Mamlatdars' and Mahalkaris' decisions in cases under the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act.

(8) Crop and boundary mark inspection and checking of annewaris (estimates of crop yields for purposes of suspension and remission of revenue) and the record of' rights.

(9) Supervision over the realisation of Government revenue.

(10) Successions to watans and other properties.

(11) Land acquisition.

(ii) Magisterial.—The Prant Officer is the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of his charge and as such exercises the powers specified in Part IV of Schedule III of the Criminal Procedure Code. These include the ordinary powers of a Taluka Magistrate and also the powers to require security to keep the peace (Section 107); powers to require security for good behaviour under sections 108, 109 and 110: power to make orders calculated to prevent apprehended danger to public peace (Section 144); power to record statements and confessions during a police investigation (Section 164): and power to hold inquests (Section 174). The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, when empowered by the State Government, has power also to call for and forward to the District Magistrate records and proceedings of subordinate executive magistrates.

As Sub-Divisional Magistrate the Prant Officer is required to inspect Police Sub-Inspectors' offices in the same way as the District Magistrate is required to do.

(iii) Other duties.—Among the other duties of the Prant Officer may he mentioned—

(1) Keeping the Collector informed of what is taking place in his sub-division not only from the revenue point of view but also in matters connected with law and order.

(2) Forest settlement work.

(3) Grant of tagai loans.

(4) The Prant Officers have over-all charge of directing and supervising development activities of the National Development Blocks opened in the talukas and petas in his charge.

Each Prant Officer is assisted in his work by a Shirastedar and three clerks.

Mamlatdars and Mahalkaris.

The Mamlatdars and Mahalkaris.—The Mamlatdar is the officer in executive charge of a taluka and the Mahalkari has executive charge of a mahal. There is a sub-treasury in every taluka or in every mahal and this is in charge of the Mamlatdar or Mahalkari. There is practically no difference in kind between the functions and duties of a Mamlatdar and those of a Mahalkari. Each taluka or mahal has on an average two or three Aval Karkuns, eight to ten clerks, 50 talathis, one Circle Officer and two or three Circle inspectors. The duties of Mamlatdars and Mahalkaris fail under various heads [In the following paragraphs whatever is said of the Mamlatdar applies also to the Mahalkari.].

(i) Revenue.—The Mamlatdar's revenue duties are to prepare the groundwork for Pram Officer and the Collector to pass their orders upon. His report is called in almost all revenue matters. When these orders are passed, he has to execute them.

In regard to the annual demand and collection of land revenue he has to get all village and taluka forms ready by the end of July every year and they are audited either by the Collector or Prant Officer, which is then called ' Jamabandi'. The Jamabandi is an audit of the previous year's accounts. The demand for fixed agricultural revenue is settled, but there are remissions and suspensions to be calculated upon that demand fixed in lean years. Remissions and suspensions are given in accordance with the crop annewaris, with the determination of which the Mamlatdar 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, stone or sand fixed when individuals apply for them. The brunt of the work of collection lies on the Mamlatdar. He can issue notices under section 152, Land Revenue Code, impose fines for delay in payment under section 148, Land Revenue Code, distrain and sell movable property and issue notices of forfeiture of the land though he has to take the Prant Officer's or the Collector's orders for actual forfeiture.

He has to collect in addition to land revenue, tagai loans, pot hissa measurement fees, boundary marks advances and irrigation revenue; the dues of other departments like Sales Tax, Income-tax and Forest when there is default in their payment, at the request of these departments to recover the dues as an arrear of land revenue.

It is also his duty to see that there is no breach of any of the conditions under which inams arc held and whenever there is any such breach to bring it to the notice of the Collector through the Prant Officer.

He has to make enquiries and get ready the material on which the Prant Officer has to pass his own order under the Bombay Hereditary Officers Act (III of 1874). He himself can pass orders as to the appointment, remuneration, period of service, suspension and fining of inferior village servants, the grant of leave of absence to them and the like.

Applications for grant of tagai arc generally received by the Mamlatdar who has to get enquiries made by the Circle Officer and Circle Inspector, see the sites for the improvement of which tagai is sought, ascertain whether the security offered is sufficient. determine what instalment of repayment would be suitable, etc. He can himself grant tagai up to Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 200 under the Land Improvement Loans Act and Agricultural Loans Act respectively. A Mamlatdar who has been specially empowered can grant tagai up to Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 500 under the Land Improvement Loans Act and the Agricultural Loans Act respectively. In other cases he has to obtain orders from the Prant Officer or the Collector.

The Mamlatdar's duties regarding tagai do not end with the giving of it: he has to see that it is properly utilised, inspect the works undertaken with it, watch the payment, and make recoveries from defaulters. The Mamlatdar is primarily responsible for the administration of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Loans Act within the areas in his charge. Some of his powers under the Act have been delegated to the Aval Karkuns.

(ii) Quasi-Judicial.—The quasi-judicial duties which the Mamlatdar performs include: (1) inquiries and orders under Mamlatdars' Courts Act (II of 1906); (2) the execution of civil court decrees; (3) the disposal of applications from superior holders for assistance in recovering land revenue from inferior holders; and (4) enquiry in respect of disputed cases in connection with the record of rights in each village. The last two are summary enquiries under the Land Revenue Code.

(iii) Magisterial.- Every Mamlatdar is the ex-officio Taluka Magistrate of his taluka. As Taluka Magistrate, First Class, he has the following among other powers under the Criminal Procedure Code:—

(1) Power to command any unlawful assembly to disperse (Section 127).

(2) Power to use civil force to disperse unlawful assembly (Section 128).

(3) Power to require military force to be used to disperse unlawful assembly (Section 130).

(4) Power to apply to District Magistrate to issue commission for examination of witnesses (Section 506).

(5) Powers to recover penalty on forfeited bond (Section 514) and to require fresh security (Section 514-A).

(6) Powers to make order as to disposal of property regarding which an offence is committed (Section 517).

(7) Power to sell property of a suspected character (Section 525).

If authorised by the State Government or the District Magistrate. the Taluka Magistrate may exercise the following among other powers:—

(1) Power to make orders prohibiting repetitions of nuisances (Section 143).

(2) Power to make orders calculated to prevent apprehended danger to public peace (Section 144).

(3) Power to hold inquests (Section 174).

The Mamlatdar is also in charge of the management of the sub-jail. He has to keep the District Magistrate and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate informed of all criminal activities occurring in the area in his charge and take necessary steps incidental to the maintenance of law and order. In the case of serious disturbance of public peace the Mamlatdar carries great responsibility, for, as the Senior Executive Magistrate on the spot, he must issue orders and carry on till his superiors take charge.

(iv) Treasury and Accounts.—As sub-treasury officer the Mamlatdar is in charge of the taluka treasury, which is called "sub-treasury", in relation to the district treasury. Into this treasury all moneys due to Government in the taluka—land revenue, forest, excise, public works and other receipts—are paid and from it nearly the whole of the money expended in the taluka is secured. The sub-post offices in the taluka receive their cash for postal transactions from the sub-treasury and remit the receipts to it. The sub-treasury officer pays departmental officers on cash orders or demand drafts issued by treasury officers and on cheques, except where certain departments are allowed to present bills at the sub-treasury. The sub-treasury officer also issues Government bank drafts.

When the Mamlatdar is away from his Headquarters the treasury Aval Karkun is ex-officio in charge of the sub-treasury and the account business and is held personally responsible for it. During the Mamlatdar's presence he is authorised to sign receipts irrespective of the amount.

The taluka sub-treasury is also the local depot for stamps, general court-fee and postal of all denominations and for the stock of opium held there for sale to permit holders.

A currency chest is maintained at almost all sub-treasuries in which surplus cash balances are deposited. From it, withdrawals are made to replenish sub-treasury balances. Sub-treasuries are treated as agencies of the State Bank for remittance of funds.

The Mamlatdar has to verify the balance in the sub-treasury including those of stamps and opium on the closing day of each month, which for the convenience of the District Treasury is fixed on the 25th of all months, except February when it is the 23rd and March when it is the 31st, latter being the closing day of the financial year. The report of the verification together with the monthly returns of receipts under different heads, has to be submitted by the Mamlatdar to the Treasury Officer at Jalgaon.

(v) Other administrative duties.—The Mamlatdar is the pivot of the administration in his taluka. He is responsible to the Collector and the Prant Officer whom he must obey and keep constantly informed of all political happenings, outbreaks of epidemics and other matters affecting the well-being of the people, such as any maladministration in any department or any hitch in the working of the administrative machine.

He must help guide officers of all departments in the execution of their respective duties in so far as his taluka is concerned. In fact, he is at the service of them all and forms the connecting link between the officer and the public whom they are all meant to serve. This is particularly so in departments which do not have a local taluka officer of their own. The Mamlatdar is also responsible for cattle census, which really comes under the purview of the Agricultural department. The Co-operative department expects the Mamlatdar to propagate co-operative principles in his taluka. He has to execute the awards and decrees of societies in the taluka, unless there is a special recovery officer appointed for the purpose. He has to take prompt action for the control of epidemics and to render to the Assistant Director of Public Health and his assistants every help in preventing outbreaks of epidemic diseases and suppressing them when they occur.

Under executive orders the Mamlatdar has to provide the Military department with the necessary provisions and conveyances when any detachment marches through the taluka.

The Mamlatdar's position in relation to other taluka officers, e.g., the sub-inspector of police, the sub-registrar, the range forest officer, the sub-assistant surgeon and the prohibition officer 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 Mamlatdar is not expected to work directly for local self-governing bodies he is usually the principal source of the Collector's information about them. He is responsible for the administration of his taluka just as the Collector is responsible for the district administration.

The Mamlatdar is ex-officio Chairman of the Taluka Development Board. which acts as an agency of the District Development Board in the taluka in all matters pertaining to agricultural and rural development and especially in regard to the "Grow More Food" Campaign. The other members of the Board are the Agricultural Assistant, the Range Forest Officer, the Assistant District Co-operative Officer stationed at the taluka headquarters and the Veterinary Assistant. The Collector nominates as members with the approval of Government three non-officials who are known to take an active interest in the " Grow More Food " Campaign in the taluka.

In relation to the public well-being the Mamlatdar is the local representative of Government and performs generally the same functions as the Collector but on a lower plane.

Circle Officers and Circle Inspectors.

Circle Officers and Circle Inspectors.—In order to assist the Mamlatdar in exercising proper supervision over the village officers and village servants and to make local enquiries of every kind promptly. Circle officers in the grade of Aval Karkuns and Circle Inspectors in the grade of Karkuns are appointed. The Circle Officer certifies entries in the record of rights and thus relieves Mamlatdar of a good deal of routine work. There are 30 to 50 villages in charge of a circle officer or circle inspector in each taluka. Their duties relate to—

(1) boundary marks inspection, inspection of crops including the estimating of the annewari, the inspection of the tagai works and detection of illegal occupation of Government land:

(2) preparation of agricultural and other statistical returns, viz., crop statistics, cattle census and water-supply;

(3) supervision of the village officers in the preparation and maintenance of the record of rights, the mutation register and the tenancy register;

(4) examination of land revenue receipts and supervision of the revenue collection; and

(5) such other miscellaneous work as the Mamlatdar may from time to time entrust them with, e.g., enquiry into alleged encroachments, etc.

Patil.

Patil (or Village Headman).—The Patil or Village Headman is the principal official in a village.

The duties of the Patil fall under the following heads: (i) revenue, (ii) quasi-magisterial and (hi) administrative. His revenue duties are—

(i) In conjunction with the talathi (village accountant) to collect the revenue due to Government from the rayats;

(ii) to detect encroachments on Government land and protect trees and other Government property;

(iii) to execute the orders received from the taluka office in connection with recovery of revenue and other matters;

(iv) to assist talathi in maintaining properly the record of rights and village accounts and to get him to submit the periodical returns punctually; and

(v) to render assistance to high officials visiting the village for inspection work and other purposes.

There are quasi-magisterial functions pertaining to the police patil. In a majority of villages the same person is both the police and the revenue patil. In some villages there are separate patils for revenue and police work. The police patil is responsible for the writing up of the birth and death register and for the care of unclaimed property found in the village. Several duties have been imposed on the police patil by the Bombay Village Police-Act (VIII of 1867). The village police is under his charge, and he has authority to require all village servants to aid him in performing the duties entrusted to him. He has to make use of the village establishment in such a manner as to afford the utmost possible security against robbery, breach of the peace and acts injurious to the public and to the village community. It is the police patil's duty to furnish the Taluka Magistrate with any returns or information called for and keep him constantly informed as to the state of crime and the health and general condition of the community in his village. He has to afford police officers every assistance in his power when called upon by them for assistance. Further, he has to obey and execute all orders and warrants issued to him by an executive magistrate or a police officer, collect and communicate to the district police intelligence about all matters affecting the public peace, prevent within the limits of his village the commission of offences and public nuisances and detect and bring offenders therein to justice. If a crime is committed within the limits of his village and the perpetrator of crime escapes or is not known, he has to forward immediate information to the police officer in charge of the police station within the limits of which his village is situated and himself proceed to investigate the matter and obtain all procurable evidence and forward it to the: police officer. If any unnatural or sudden death occurs, or any corpse is found. the police patil is bound to assemble an inquest. to be composed of two or more intelligent persons belonging to the village or neighbourhood. The report of the inquest has then to be forwarded by him to the police officer, He has also the power to apprehend any person in the village who, he has reason to believe, has committed any serious offence and send him. together with all articles to be useful in evidence, to the police officer.

As regards the patil's administrative duties, he is expected to look after the sanitation and public health of the village. He must also report: promptly the outbreak of any epidemic disease to the taluka office. He is expected to render every assistance to travellers provided payment is duly tendered. Many of the patils are hereditary officers holding watan lands and having fixed turns of services. A few are stipendiary nominees of Government.

Talathi.

The Talathi (village accountant).—The office of the village accountant generally used to he held by hereditary kulkarni. In the past, hereditary kulkarnis were allowed subject to certain conditions to commute the right of service attached to the kulkarni watan. But very few people took advantage of the commutation of watan. By the enactment of the Bombay Paragana and Kulkarni Watan Abolition Act all the kulkarni watans along with the right of service were abolished with effect from the 1st of May, 1951. In this district: these posts are continued and the officers are appointed by the Prant Officer. If the villages are small, one talathi is appointed for two or more villages, which are called his charge or Saza. His main duties are: (1) to maintain the village accounts relating to demand, collection and arrears of land revenue, etc., the record of rights and all other village forms prescribed by Government; (2) to inspect crops and boundary marks and prepare agricultural statistics; and (3) to help the patil in the collection of land revenue, write the combined day and receipt books and other accounts and do other clerical work including that of the police patil when the latter is illiterate.

Village Servants.

Village Servants.—In addition to the village officers mentioned above there are village servants. They are of two kinds, viz., (1) those useful to the community and (2) those useful to the Government.

The village servants useful to the community have been granted inam lands, subject to the payment of annual reduced assessment called Judi. Some inam lands have also been granted to such persons on payment of Judi for performing Puja (services) to the deities. There are also carpenters, barbers, potters, etc., who render service to the village community. They do not get any watans. But they have certain rights and privileges at ceremonies, etc. The service is remunerated by the landlords benefited, in the shape of the annual payment in sheaves of corn (jowar or wheat) and a few seers of other grain in the field such as wheat and other cereals. For special services rendered on ceremonial occasions payments are made in cash, corn or clothes. Sometimes food is given.

The other village servants useful to community are the carpenter (sutar), the barber (nhavi), the shoe-maker (chambhar), the blacksmith (lohar), the washerman (dhobi), the potter (kumbhar) and the rope-maker (mang). However, as the demand for them is gradually on the decrease in most of the villages, they have developed a tendency to leave the village and seek their livelihood in cities and towns. In some villages these village servants still survive. All the religious rites in an agricultural household are performed by the gram joshi for which he is paid dakshina. Some religious-minded cultivators give him some quantity of corn and other presents in kind. The Mulla functions at the religious and other ceremonies of Muslims.

There are also certain village servants remunerated by grant of land free of revenue or actual cash allowance and appointed to assist the village officers in the collection of land revenue, to summon villagers to the chavadi, to carry the land revenue to the taluka office, when required to help the patil in the detection of offences, to help him to apprehend known criminals and to help him to keep order in the village. They usually move about armed with staves. They do the work for the village officers as is done by the peons under the Mamlatdar and the constables under the Police Sub-Inspector.

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