OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION OF MANAGED ESTATES

The administration of estates of minors, lunatics and persons incapable of managing their own property is often taken over by Government under the provisions of the Bombay Court of Wards Act, 1905, and the other Central Act, viz., the Guardians and Wards Act (VIII of 1890). The purpose behind this is to secure proper care and management of the estates concerned. In the case of persons incapable of managing their own property assumption of superintendence of the estate is undertaken only when the estate is mismanaged or when there is no one capable of taking proper care of it and Government is of the opinion that it is expedient in the public interest to preserve the property of the person for the benefit of his family and the property is of such value that economic management by the Government agency is practicable.

In Sholapur district, the Collector is the Court of Wards. The powers and functions of the Collector are exercised by the Resident Deputy Collector who is responsible for the management of the estates taken over under the Court of Wards Act and the Guardians and Wards Act. One manager in the grade of awal karkun assisted by necessary staff has been specially appointed to assist the Collector and Court of Wards in the discharge of his duties.

Prior to 1951-52 the minor's estates were managed by Civil Courts with the assistance of Deputy Nazirs. The work of management of minor's estates was transferred to the Collector and Courts of Wards from 1953 onwards. On transfer of this work to the Collector, 77 estates were taken under the management from the Civil Court. Thereafter in 137 more cases the Collector was appointed as guardian of the property of the minors. So far eighty estates have been released as the wards ceased to be minors under orders of the District Court. At present ten estates are under the management of the Collector. The floating assets and liabilities of these estates work out at Rs. 7,497.28 and Rs. nil respectively.

Court of Wards Act: The number of estates taken over by Government under the provisions contained in the Bombay Court of Wards Act, 1905, was 13. Out of these, eleven estates have been relinquished under orders of the State Government. The Court of Wards is empowered, with the previous sanction of the State Government, to assume superintendence of the property of any land-holder or of any person who is disqualified to manage his own property being (a) minor, (b) females declared by the District Court to be unfit to manage their own property, (c) persons declared by the District Court to be incapable of managing or unfit to manage their own property, and (d) persons adjudged by a competent Civil Court to be of unsound mind and incapable of managing their estates efficiently.

The Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, applies to the estates of minors only with much the same provisions of the Bombay Court of Wards Act, 1905.

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