GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

COLLECTOR

The Collector is the head of the district administration and in so far as the need and exigencies of the district administration are concerned, he is expected to supervise the working of the other departments also.

Revenue.

(i) 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 agricultural 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, section 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 the 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 a 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 rules under the Land Revenue Code. Miscellaneous land revenue also has to be 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 land revenue rests with the Collector, who has to see that the revenue due is recovered punctually and with the minimum of coercion and that the collections are properly credited and accounted for.

Statistics of Land Revenue Collections:—The following are statistics relating to land revenue collections in Satara district for the year 1957-58:-

The Collector is also responsible for the collection of 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 Fee 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. The Collector and his establishment have to undertake the recovery of such dues whenever 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 on the Collector, and the Divisional Forest Officer is his assistant for the purpose of that administration 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. In fact, he is the agency through which the Director of Excise and Prohibition arranges to have the policy of the department carried out. The administration of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act in its proper spirit rests with the Collector- He is also an appellate authority to hear appeals under the various sections of the Act.

Inams.

(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 continuable are observed and they are continued only to persons entitled to hold them. Recently, however, most of the inams except Deosthan inams and some service inams useful to Government, have been abolished under various abolition Acts of the State Government. The State Government have inaugurated the 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 were abolished by the Bombay Paragana and Kulkarni Watans Abolition Act (LX of 1950). By the Bombay Personal Inams Abolition Act (XLII of 1953), which came into effect 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 exemp-tion is or exceeds Rs. 5,000, with effect from the 1st day of August 1953, and in all other cases, with effect from the 1st day of August, 1955.

Public Utility

(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 time 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 Satara is the Court of Wards for the Estates taken over under the Bombay Court of Wards Act (I of 1905). He is appointed a Manager to manage these estates. The responsibility of the work of collection of wards dues lies on the Mamlatdars and Mahalkaris- They have to collect these dues as an arrear of land revenue. The Collector has also to look after. the estates of the minors under the Guardians of Wards Act.

Accounts.

(iv) Accounts—Before separation of treasury work from the Revenue department, the Treasury Officer was a member of the Revenue department and he had to perform various important executive functions in that connection. The separation of the Treasury and Revenue cadres at the district level has come into force with effect from 1st April 1955. After separation, the Treasury Officer is a member of the cadre of Maharashtra State Accounts Service and functions independently. The treasuries are also under the administrative control of the Finance department. At the district headquarters and at Karad and Phaltan the cash business has been taken over from the treasuries by the State Bank of India. The District Treasury is now concerned only with the compilation of accounts of transactions reported to by sub-treasuries and the State Bank. The accounts are submitted to the Accountant General and the instructions laid down in the Accounts Codes and Compilation of Treasury Rules are followed by the District Treasury'. Before separation of treasuries from the Revenue department the Collector and the Accountant General carried out periodical inspections of treasuries (Accountant General once in three years and the Collector once every year). For purposes of administrative control, the responsibility of the Collector in respect of Treasury Administration continues to remain unchanged and he continues to be in complete charge of the Treasury and the Treasury Establishment in his district. He does not, however, participate in the daily routine of treasury business. For that work his delegate and representative is the Treasury Officer.

Quasi-judicial function in revenue matters.

(v) Quasi-judicial functions in revenue matters.—Among the quasi-judicial functions of the Collector on the revenue side, apart from hearing appeals on the decisions of the Prant Officer under the Land Revenue Code and various other Acts, may be mentioned: (i) 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), (ii) Appellate powers under sections 53 and 67 of the Bombay Irrigation Act (VII of 1879), (iii) The work which the Collector does in connection with the execution of civil courts' decrees, (iv) Proceedings and awards under section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act (1 of 1894).

Local Self Government.

(vi) Local Self-Government.—With the revival of the posts of the Commissioners since 3rd March, 1958 the functions which were carried out by the Divisional officers arc now being performed by the Com-missioner of the Division.

Generally, in all cases, the passing of orders rests with the Commissioner of the Division in case of the municipalities constituted under the Bombay District Municipal Act, 1901 and with the State Government in case of the municipalities constituted under the Bombay Municipal Boroughs Act, 1925. So also, the statutory functions of the District Local Board are subject to the orders of the Commissioner of the Division and those of the School Board constituted under the Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947, are subject to the orders of the State Government.

Similarly, the statutory functions of the village panchayats are governed by the rules made by the State Government and the by-laws made by the District Local Board with the previous sanction of the Commissioner. There was a dual control of the Collector and the District Local Board over the village panchayats. But with the passing of the Bombay Village Panchayats (Amendment) Act, vital changes were effected in the village panchayats' administration. It is now looked after by a Board of the non-official constituted for the district. The Collector is empowered to hold elections and bye-elections to the municipalities, District Local Board and the Village Panchayats. The various Acts governing local bodies have conferred upon the Collector as the Chief representative of Government autho-rity to supervise the actions of the local bodies and to give them advice.

Other Departments.

(vii) Officers of other Departments.--The Officers of other departments stationed at the district headquarters can be divided into two groups:—

(A)-(l) The District Judge, (2) The District Superintendent of Police, (3) The Divisional Forest Officer, (4) The Executive Engineer, and (5) The Civil Surgeon.

(B)-(l) The District Inspector of Prohibition, (2) The Admi-nistrative Officer, District School Board, (3) District Agricultural Officer, (4) The Educational Inspector, (5) The District Health Officer, (6) The Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, (7) The Divisional Veterinary Officer, (8) The District Publicity Officer, (9) The Social Welfare Officer, (10) The Sub-Divisional Soil Conservation Officer, (11) The Sales Tax Officer, (12) The District Inspector of Land Records, (13) The Additional Assistant Consolidation Officer, (14) Assistant Consolidation Officer, (15) The District Statistical Officer, (16) The Senior Auditor, Local Funds Accounts, Satara Circle, (17) The Junior Inspector of Industries, and (18) The District Officer for Cottage Industries and Industrial Co-operatives.

(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 longstanding 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 Executive Engineer stands a little apart. Since his work is technical he is not directly subordinate to the Collector though in a sense he plays a part subsidiary to the general administration of the district, of which the Collector is the head, and 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 be 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 works suitable as scarcity works. The programme of famine relief works is also prepared annually by the Collector, in consultation with the Executive Engineer and District Local Board. The approved programme is submitted through the Commissioner by 30th June every year. At the time of the actual opening of any work, the Collector can requisition the services of the Executive Engineer for making immediate arrangements for procuring the necessary establishment, tools, plant, 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 when ever required.

(B)— The officers in this group are of a status lower than that of those in Group (A). Their services in their particular spheres, can be requisitioned by the Collector, either directly or through their official superiors. The District Inspector of Prohibition is subordinate to the Collector except in technical matters.

These officers of the district have more or less intimate contact with the Collector in matters relating to their departments and have to carry out his general instructions.

District Magistrate.

(viii) As District Magistrate.--The Collector's duties as District Magistrate are mostly executive. He is at the head of all other 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 call for records from any subordinate executive Magistrate (section 435, Criminal Procedure Code).

(2) Power to issue commission for examination of witnesses (sections 503 and 506); and

(3) 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 repetitions 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.

District Registrar.

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

Sanitation and Public Health.

(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 advise 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 District Health Officer, Satara and the Assistant Director of Public Health, Central Registration, District Poona, in this regard.

District Development Board.

(xi) District Development Board.—Prior to 1952, therte 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. It func-tioned from 1939 to 23rd October 1952. The Collector was the ex-officio chairman.

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 October 1952, as District Development Board, by amalgamating all existing non-statutory boards and committees with it. The constitution of the District Development Board is as below:—

(a) There are 71 members on the Board.—

(i) There are 17 District or Divisional Officers.

(ii) Two members of the Legislative Council.

(iii) Two members of the Parliament.

(iv) Eight members of the Legislative Assembly.

(v) One President, District Local Board.

(vi) Three representatives of District Local Board.

(vii) One representative of the District Central Co-operative Bank.

(viii) One representative of the District School Board.

(ix) One District Home Guard Commandant.

(x) Two representatives of the Sarvodaya Centres.

(xi) Two representatives of the Co-operative Department (Co-operative Marketing and Co-operative Agricultural Societies).

(xii) Two Associate members.

(xiii) Twenty-nine other non-officials.

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

The Vice-Chairman of the district development board is the Chair-man of all the sub-committees except the District Police Advisory Sub-Committee and the Community Development Blocks-National Extension Service Advisory Sub-Committee of which the Collector is the Chairman.

The Joint Secretary of the Board is being appointed by Government. He is also the District Project Officer, Satara, for the National Extension Service, Community Development Works and he is assisted by a small staff.

The District Development Board, Satara has constituted the following 12 sub-committees as given in the statement.

The functions and duties of the district development Board are:

(1) to advise and help Government in the execution of policies, mainly 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; (4) to elect suitable agencies for the distribution of iron and steel materials and cement, to allot the materials and to supervise the scheme; and (5) to excute such schemes and administer such funds as may be entrusted by Government by specific instructions and orders.

SUB -COMMITTEES UNDER THE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT BOARD, SATARA.

District Soldiers', sailors and Airmen's Board.

(xii) District Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Board.-The administration of the Board is looked after by the Collector in his capacity as President of the Board. The constitution of the Board sanctioned by the Government is as follows;-The Collector of the district is the President; a suitable retired ex-Serviceman is appointed the Vice- president and the members are:-The District Superintendent of Regional Director of Resettlement and Employment, Bombay (or his nominee); a representative of the Indian Navy wherever available; the President, District Local Board (subject to local bodies agreeing to the proposal), nine-non-Official members nominated by the Collector with the concurrence of the State Board; the Prant Officers; the Administrator, Services Post-war Reconstruction and other allied funds; the members of the State Board,, resident in the district; the Educational Inspector, Satara; the Civil Surgeon, Satara, and Assistant Recruiting Officer, Satara. The duties of the secretary are entrusted to an ex-Junior Commissioned Officer, who serves as paid secretary. The duties of the Board are to promote and maintain a feeling of goodwill between the civil and military classes; to look after the welfare of the families of serving soldiers; rehabilitation of ex-servicemen by rendering them necessary help; financial help to the widows of ex-servicemen, disabled and other deserving ex-servicemen; to act as agency for the purpose of collection of funds, such as Flag Day and Hostel Day; to establish and conduct institutions such as Military Boys' and Girls' Hostel for the children of ex-servicemen who have no educational facilities at their places; formulate and implement schemes for employment of ex-servicemen and, in brief, to ensure welfare of serving soldiers and ex-servicemen in all possible manner. The activities of the District Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Board, Satara, in brief, are given below:-(l) Financial relief to the extent of about Rs. 1,100/- is paid per month to the widows and other deserving ex-servicemen for their maintenance. (2) Three Military hostels: two for boys and one for girls are conducted. The total strength of the inmates is 103 (1959). (3) A rest house and a library are conducted at Satara for the benefit of the ex-soldiers and their dependents. (4)Scholar-ships amounting to about Rs. 40,672 are paid annually to the children of ex-servicemen to meet the school/college fees required to be paid by them and in some cases incidental expenses for purchase of books and hostel charges in respect of hostel inmates. (5) Free maternity facilities are provided for the wives of ex-servicemen at three centres in the district. (6) The ex-servicemen and their dependents in need of medical treatment, get their treatment at the Civil Hospital, Satara, and special medicines required, are provided out of Services Post War Reconstruction Fund/Re-allotment of Flag Day collections and other funds. The activities of the Board are controlled by the Maharashtra State Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Board, Poona.

National Extension Service Blocks,

(xiii) National Extension Service Blocks.—The following Community Development and National Extension service Blocks were in operation in the district (1959), viz., (1) Karad, (2) Satara, (3) Patan, (4) Wai, and (5) Khandala. Out of these blocks the first four were covered under community development programme, while the last one was covered under National Extension Service programme. The Collector is expected to take personal interest in the National Extension Service Blocks opened in his district.

Control of Essential Articles.

(xiv) Control of Essential Articles. [When as a consequence of World War II (1939-45), there was scarcity and maldistribution of various essential articles, such as foodstuffs, cloth, sugar and kerosene, Government 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 some years after the end of the war, and it was not till 1954, that the controls on foodstuffs were 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 staff 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 in the district and with the Mamlatdars in the talukas. In regard to rationing schemes the was responsible for their proper working and for exercising general supervision over, the rationing, officers and their staff.]—There are in all 202 Fair Price Shops functioning in the district as on 15th December, 1958 for the sale of rice and wheat. The periodical inspection of fair price shops by the touring officers ensures efficiency in the working of the fair price shops and prevention of malpractice.

The Collector's Office

The Collectors Office.-The Collector's Office at Satara is divided into many branches. The Personal Assistant to the Collector supervises the work of all the branches except the National Extension Service, District Development Board, and Rural Development Board which are supervised by the District Project Officer. The Personal Assistant is also, the Additional District Magistrate.—

(1) The Revenue Branch under the Chitnis (in the grade of a Mamlatdar) deals with matters like land revenue, land grants, watans, cash allowances, tagai, establishment, encroachments, forest matters, city surveys, agricultural returns, irrigation recovery, mines and minerals, audit of village accounts (Jamabandi Audit) and inspection of talukas.

(2) The General Branch under the Head Clerk (in the grade of Mamlatdar) deals with municipalities, District Local Board matters, land acquisition, prohibition and excise, public works, medical affairs, execution of civil court decrees, telephone, displaced persons and evacuee property, etc.

(3) The Deputy Chitnis Branch deals with magisterial and political matters, fairs, issue of licences for cinema houses, entertainments and possession of explosives, etc., and police matters connected with the maintenance of law and order.

(4) The Tenancy Branch has been recently opened and it is under the control of an Additional Chitnis.

(5) The Village Panchayat Branch is under control of the Special Village Panchayat Officer (of the rank of a Mamlatdar). But in view of the amendment to the Village Panchayat Act, a District Village Panchayat Officer in the Deputy Collector's grade is to be appointed. In addition to the above, there are other branches, viz., (1) National Extension Service, (2) District Deve-lopment Board and Rural Development Board, (3) Supply Branch, (4) Court of Wards and Guardian and Wards Branch, (5) District Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Board.

A District Project Officer in the Deputy Collector's grade looks after the work of (1) National Extension Service, (2) District Development Board, and (3) Rural Development Board branches. Supply Branch is in charge of an Awal Karkun. A Manager in the grade of Head Clerk looks after the work of Court of Wards and an Awal Karkun attends to the work of minors', estates in the Guardian and Wards Branch. The Secretary of the Board who is an ex-serviceman, looks after the work of District Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Board. The Election Awal Karkun (in the grade of Head Clerk), deals with the election matters. The District Regis-tration Office is one of the branches under the control of the Collector and the District Registrar and is in charge of the Headquarter Sub-Registrar. There is also an Accounts Branch in charge of the Deputy Accountant.

PRANT OFFICERS.

The Prant Officers.—Under the Collector are the Prant Officers who are either Assistant Collectors (I.A.S. Officers) or District Deputy Collectors (Members of the Maharashtra Civil Service). There are in all four such prants or sub-divisions of the district for the present. Each prant is in charge of an Assistant Collector or a Deputy Collector. The Headquarters of Satara Prant is at Satara and those of the other Prants are at Mahabaleshwar, Phaltan and Karad. In addition to four Prant Officers, there are the following officers in the Deputy Collector's grade: (1) Personal Assistant to the Collector, (2) District Project Officer, (3) Two Prant Officers for hearing tenancy appeals and Agricultural Lands Tribunal in Prant Officer's grade at Satara, (4) Land Acquisition Officers in the Prant Officer's grade for land acquisition work for Koyna Project.

The Prant Officers form the connecting link between the Mamlat-dars, the Mahalkaris 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.

MAMLATDARS AND MAHALKARIS.

The Mamlatdars and Mahalkaris.-Each taluka has one or two Awal Karkuns (one of whom looks to the Treasury work) and eight to ten clerks, 30 to 35 Talathis, one Circle Officer, and two to four Circle Inspectors. Each Mahal has one Awal Karkun, four to six clerks, five to fifteen Talathis and two Circle Inspectors.

(i) Revenue.—The Mamlatdar's revenue duties are to prepare the ground work for the Prant 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 ready all village and taluka forms necessary for what is called the making of the Jamabandi of the taluka by the Collector or Prant Officer. 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 fixed demand 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 also lies on the Mamlatdar. He can issue notices under section 152, Land Revenue Code, inflict fines for delay in payment under section 148, Land Revenue Code, distrain and sell moveable 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 are 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 orders under the Bombay Hereditary Offices 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, are generally received by the Mamlatdar, who makes enquiries through Circle Officer and Circle Inspector, 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. He can him-self grant tagai up to Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 200, under the Land Improve ment Loans Act and Agricultural Loans Act, respectively. A Mamlat-dar who has been specially empowered can grant tagai up to Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 500, under the Land Improvement Loans Act and the Agricul-tural 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 granting of it; he has to see that it is properly utilised, inspect the works undertaken by its means, watch the payment, and make recoveries from defaulters. The Mamlatdar is primarily responsible for the administration of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act (LXVII of 1948) within the areas of his charge. Some of his powers under the Act, have been delegated to the Awal Karkuns.

Additional Mamlatdars and Additional Mahalkaris have been appointed for each Taluka or Mahal office for work in connection with the implementation of the Tenancy law. Recently according to orders the Senior Mamlatdars have been designated with the work of Agricultural Land Tribunals under the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act and the Additional Mamlatdars have been entrusted with the revenue work. The Mamlatdars. are however in overall charge of the taluka administration. The same orders apply to the Mahalkaris and Additional Mahalkaris in Mahals.

(ii) Quasi-Judicial.—The quasi-judicial duties which the Mamlat-dar performs include: (1) inquiries and orders under the Mamlat-dars' 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 enqui-ries under the Land Revenue Code.

(iii) Magisterial.—Every Mamlatdar is ex-officio the Taluka Magis-trate of his taluka. As a 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 witness (section 506).

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

(6) Power to make order as to the 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-Divi-sional Magistrate informed of all criminal activities in his charge and take steps incidental to the maintenance of law and order in his charge. In a case of serious disturbance of the 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 arrive.

(iv) Treasury and Accounts.—As a slib-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 for Government in the taluka is secured. The sub-post offices in the taluka receive their cash for postal transactions from the sub-treasury and remit their 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 direct at the sub-treasury. The sub-treasury officer also issues Govern-ment bank drafts.

When the Mamlatdar is away from his Headquarters, the Treasury Awal 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 irrespec-tive 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 Reserve Bank for remittance of funds.

The Mamlatdar has to verify the balances 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, the 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 Satara. The Sub-Treasuries are annually inspected either the Collector or the Prant Officer.

(v) Other Administrative Duties.—The Mamlatdar is the pivot of 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 mal-administration in any department or any hitch in the working of the administrative machinery.

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 officers and the public whom they are all meant to serve. This is particularly so in departments which have not a local taluka officer of their own. The Mamlatdar is also responsible for the 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 adminis-tration of his taluka just as the Collector is responsible for the district.

The Mamlatdar is ex-officio Development Officer in charge of the National Extension Service Block opened in the taluka in his charge.

He is ex-officio Chairman of the Taluka Development Board which acts as the 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 stationed at the taluka headquarters, and the Veterinary Assistant. The Col-lector nominates as members with the approval of Government, three non-officials 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 Mamlat- dar 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 Awal Karkuns and Circle Inspectors in the grade of Karkuns are appointed. The Circle Officer certifies entries in the record of rights and thus relieves the Mamlatdar of a good deal of routine work. There are some 30 to 50 villages in charge of a circle officer or circle inspector. These officers form a link between the Mamlatdar and the village officers. There are generally one circle officer and three circle inspectors in each taluka. Their duties relate to—

(1) boundary marks inspection, inspection of crops including the estimating of the annewari, the inspection of 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.

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 (iii) administrative. His revenue duties are—

(i) in conjunction with the talathi (village accountant) t0 collect the revenue due to Government from the rayats;

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

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

(iv) to assist the 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 appertaining 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 dispose of the village establish-ment so 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 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 the village and the perpetrator of the 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 to apprehend any person in the village whom he has reasons 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 to 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 pro-vided payment is duly tendered. Many of the patils are hereditary officers holding watan lands and having fixed terms of service; a few are stipendiary nominees of Government.

TALATHI.

The Talathi (village accountant).—The office of the village accountant used generally to be held by hereditary kulkarnis. 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 Aboli-tion Act, all the kulkarni watans along with the right of service were abolished with effect from the 1st of May, 1951 and talathis were appointed in place of these kulkarnis. In the merged State areas, also, the Kulkarni watans have been abolished by the enactment of the Bombay Merged Territories Miscellaneous Alienations Aboli-tion Act and Talathis have been appointed in their stead. There is also a proposal to appoint talathi-cum-village panchayat secretaries at each village and for this purpose a class has been started at Mahuli to tram talathis in village panchayat matters. If the villages are small, one talathi is appointed for two or more villages, which are called his charge or saza. The talathi receives monthly salary in a time-scale of pay. 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. The talathi is Assistant Gram Sevak in those places where community development projects or national extension service blocks have been opened.

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 are the joshi, mullas, carpenters, barbers, potters, etc., who render service to the commu-nity. Some of them were granted inam lands; but by the enactment of the Bombay Service Inams (useful to community) Abolition Act, these inams have been abolished. The service is remunerated by the cultivators in the shape of an annual payment of sheaves or corn (called Baluta).

The village servants useful to community whose services are still in demand in villages are the carpenter (sutar), the barber (nhavi), the shoe-maker (mochi), the watchman (ramoshi), and the black-smith (lohar). The washerman (dhobi), the potter (kumbhar) and the rope-maker (mang) are not generally in demand in all villages.

There has, therefore, been a tendency for them to leave the villages and seek their livelihood in cities and towns. In some villages these village servants still survive. The silversmith (sonar) as a balutedar has entirely disappeared. The village astrologer (gramjoshi) is employed at the discretion of the cultivators. All the religious cere-monies of the cultivators are done through the gramjoshi, for which he is paid some amount called 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 several Mahars at a village. The Mahars used to take charge of dead animals of the villagers and sell their hides to the shoe-maker. For this and other service such as cleaning open spaces, etc. they used to get Baluta from the cultivators. The Mahars have, however, stopped this service since they have converted themselves to Buddhism.

There are also certain village servants — Mahars and Ramoshis — re-munerated 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 chavdi, to carry the land revenue to the taluka Office, when required to help the Patil in the detection of offences and to help him to apprehend known criminals and to help him to keep order in the village. These do the same work for the village officers as is done by the peons under the Mamlatdar and the constables under the sub-Inspector. The Bombay Inferior Village Watans Abolition Act, 1958 came into force in Satara with effect from 1st August 1959, and with it all inferior village watans in the district stand as abolished. Full assessment is levied on all inam lands and these lands are entered in the relevant Record of Rights in the name of Government.

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