CHAPTER X
GENERAL
ADMINISTRATION
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(a)
Historical Background and Divisions of the District
The district as an administrative unit has occupied a unique position in a State since the Mauryan times. The term ‘general administration’ in so far as the district is concerned, refers to the management of public affairs within an area demarcated as a district. The districts were organized before the Independence, for maintenance of peace, collection of land revenue and administration of justice. After the Independence, district administration functions in a democratic set up with the objective of developing the hitherto backward areas to ensure fruits of development to all citizens in a fair and equitable manner. While the maintenance of peace, collection of land revenue, and administration of justice, continue to be the important functions of the district administration, it has to work for the overall development of the district with special emphasis on expansion and development of education, public health, sanitation and communications.
Faridkot District was constituted as a separate district on 7 August 1972 with three tahsils namely Faridkot, Moga and Muktsar. Prior to the formation of a separate district, Faridkot was a tahsil of Bathinda District and Moga and Muktsar tahsils were part of Firozpur District. Before the Independence Faridkot was a Princely State ruled by a Raja. The Raja being the supreme head of his government, selected to locate his central offices at this place. He was the chief executive, legislative and judicial authority all rolled into one. But from the beginning of the 19th century onwards it was no longer an absolutely independent state and the Ruler had to function under the overall control, direction and superintendence of the paramount power. The Governor General of India, in his capacity as the representative of the British Crown, exercised the powers of parmountcy over the Faridkot State, it was under the control of the Political Agency, Bahawalpur. As such, the Raja had little freedom in regulating his external relations. Even in internal matters, he did not enjoy full freedom. During the minority of rulers the rulers the State was placed under a Regency Council. In such periods British Government had even greater opportunities of interference in its affairs.
It was in the time of Raja Wazir Singh that the State was for the first time divided into four parganas namely Faridkot, Kot Kapura, Bhagta and Deep Singh Wala. But later Raja Bikram Singh, for purposes of revenue administration, abolished the parganas of Deep Singh Wala and Bhagta and merged them with those of Faridkot and Kot Kapura, respectively. He reorganized the courts and offices of the State on the British Model. He also employed experienced British Officers to streamline his administration.
Raja Bikram Singh is died in 1898. He was succeeded by his son, Balbir Singh. After a short reign of eight years, Raja Balbir Singh died in 1906. At that time his successor Branjinder Singh was minor of ten years. Therefore a council of Regency had to be appointed in order to run the State administration. The Council consisted of one President and two members. Sardar Bahadur Risaldar Partap Singh the first President, held this office upto 1990. He was succeeded by Sardar Bahadur Dyal Singh Man. In 1914 the Council was abolished and a superintendent was appointed to run the administration. The first Superintendent was Rai Bahadur Ganga Sahai.
There was no Foreign Minister of the State. The Superintendent controlled the dealings of the State with external authorities. The Mir Munshi of the State was in charge of the records relating to Batwara with other Native States and also represented the State in civil and revenue cases to which the State was a party.
The financial Administration was under the direct control of the Superintendent. The office of Accountant General was held by an officer whose services had been lent by the Punjab Government. Under him worked the Treasury Officer and the Managers of the State Banks, tosha-Khana and State Army.
The whole State was divided into three revenue circles which were respectively under the charge of the Tahsildar of Faridkot and the Naib-Tahsildars of Faridkot and Kot Kapura. These officials exercised the powers of an Assistant Collector, 2nd Grade, under the Chief Revenue Officer of the State who exercised the powers of a Collector and Commissioner.
The area of the Moga and Muktsar tahsils of Firozpur District were under the control of the British regime. British ruled area was administered on the pattern of Chandra Gupta Maurya and Akbar. The Mauryan Emperor divided the provinces of his empire into various districts. Sher Shah Suri also divided his empire into provinces (Subas) and each province into a number of district (Sarkars), which were (sarkar) has all through remained an important unit of administration. This traditional system of administration pubic servant in this field was the patwari or the village accountant and the highest revenue officer in the district was the Deputy Commissioner or Collector. The same arrangement continues to this day.
After the partition of the country, all the Princely States formed a union called PEPSU and Bathinda was made district of PEPSU. Faridkot became the headquarters of the newly formed Bathinda District. The headquarters of the district was shifted to Bathinda in 1953. Faridkot remained tahsil of the Bathinda District till the formation of the district, it comprised three tahsil, namely, Faridkot, Moga and Muktsar with district headquarters at Faridkot. Malaut was made new subdivision on 22 July 1992.
The administrative set-up of the Faridkot District on 31 March 1993 was described as under:
Administrative Divisions– For administrative purposes, Faridkot District forms a part of the Firozpur Division, Firozpur. For the purposes of general and revenue administration the district has been divided into four tahsils viz. Faridkot, (including Jaito sub-tahsils), Muktsar (including Giddarbaha sub-tahsil), Moga (including Nihalsingwala sub-tahsil) and Malaut (including Lambi sub-tahsil). All the tahsils are now subdivisions.
The administrative machinery of the district consists of a hierarchy of officers headed by the Deputy Commissioner. He is also known as a District Magistrate as head of criminal administration of the district and as District Collector, as head of the revenue administration in the district. The number of Sub-Divisional Officers (Civil), Tahsildars and Naib-Tahsildars posted in the district as on 31 March 1993 is given below:
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Number
of posts |
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Subdivision |
S.D.O.(C) |
Tahsildars |
Naib-Tahsildars |
|
Faridkot |
1 |
1 |
4 |
|
Muktsar |
1 |
1 |
2 |
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Moga |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Malaut |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
District Faridkot |
4 |
4 |
10 |
Deputy Commissioner– The General Administration of the district is vested in the Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot who functions under the administrative control Faridkot who functions under the administrative control of the Divisional Commissioner, Firozpur. In other words, the State Government’s general authority descends through Divisional Commissioner to the Deputy Commissioner. With the advent of democratic set up and increased tempo of developmental activities, the duties and responsibilities of Deputy Commissioner have increased enormously. He is in short a pivot on which runs the district administration. He still performs the triple functions of British times being at once the Deputy Commissioner, the District Collector and the District Magistrate. However, his responsibilities, particularly as Deputy Commissioner, the executive head on the spot, have greatly increased. His role as Deputy Commissioner, District Collector and District Magistrate, in brief, is described as under:
(i) As Deputy Commissioner, he is the executive head of the district with multifarious responsibilities. Due to the immense importance of his office, the Deputy Commissioner is considered to be the measuring rod of efficiency in district administration. He performs numerous responsibilities in the sphere of civil administration, development, panchayats, local bodies, etc. as a senior most officer of the district, he is expected to maintain contact with the elected representatives of the people.
The Deputy Commissioner has an office Superintendent under him, to supervise the work of the clerical staff. He guides the functioning of different branches of his office. Each branch is headed by an Assistant and is functionally known after him.
The number of branches in the office of the office of the Deputy Commissioner differs from district to district depending upon the requirements of the district depending upon the requirements of the district concerned but more important branches existing in almost all the districts are: Establishment Branch, Nazarat Branch, sadr Kanungo Branch, Development Branch, Miscellaneous Branch, Licensing Branch, Complaint and Enquiries Branch, Local Funds Branch, Revenue Accounts Branch, Flood Relief Branch, Revenue Record Branch, Records and Issue Branch, Sadr Copying Branch, Registration Branch, Peshi Branch, Election Branch, etc.
(ii) As District Collector, the Deputy Commissioner is the highest revenue judicial authority in the district sand is responsible for collection of revenue and other Government dues recoverable as arrears of land revenue. In revenue matters, he is responsible to the government through the Divisional Commissioner and the Financial Commissioner, Revenue. He supervises the maintenance of accurate and uptodate records of rights as regards the land records and agricultural statistics besides management of government land and estates.
The Deputy Commissioner is also the appointing authority for patwaris and Kanungos and ministerial staff posted in the tahsil offices, and in the offices of Sub Divisional Officers (Civil) and Deputy Commissioner, except in the case of Superintendent of Deputy Commissioner’s Office, and for most of the subordinate revenue staff in the district.
(iii) As District Magistrate, the Deputy Commissioner is primarily responsible for the maintenance of law and order in the district. He supervises all sub Divisional Magistrates and Executive Magistrates in the district and controls/directs the actions of the police. He has supervisory powers over the administration of jails and lock-ups in the district.
Besides his above mentioned duties as Deputy Commissioner, District collector, and District Magistrate, he enjoys the powers of Chief Settlement Commissioner and Chief Sales Commissioner under the Displaced persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act, 1954 and the Punjab Package Deal Properties (Disposal) Act, 1976, respectively. In this capacity, his duties are: hearing revisions/appeals against the orders of Settlement Commissioner and Chief Sales Commissioner regarding allotment of land, disposal of urban/rural evacuee properties/land in the district
The position of Deputy Commissioner as head or the district administration has become one of expanding responsibilities. As he is the executive head of the Civil Administration, al departments in the district, which otherwise have their own officers, look to him for guidance and co-ordination. He plays an important role in the administration of municipal committees, community development block and Zila Parishad, which came into existence with decentralisation of authority and expansion of the Panchayati Raj. He is also responsible for the execution of rural development schemes. Besides, he is responsible as District Election Officer, for the peaceful and orderly conduct of elections held in the district from time to time. For elections to Lok Sabha constituency/constituencies of his district, he functions as Returning Officer. He renders active help during Decennial Census. He controls and regulates the distribution of scarce essential commodities, etc. he keeps liaison with military authorities in his jurisdiction and is the competent authority for requisition of land for military purposes. In any matter of public importance which does not fall specifically in the sphere of any Government department, State of Central, he as a general administrator, is required to take cognizance of the matter in public interest and take it to its logical conclusion with the help of some Government departments or by processing the matter in his own office. In short, there is nothing of importance which takes place in the district with which he is not associated, directly or indirectly.
Sub Divisional Officer (Civil)– The Sub Divisional Officer is the chief civil officer of a subdivision. In fact he is a miniature Deputy Commissioner of the subdivision. He is either a junior member of the Indian Administrative Services or a Senior member of the State Civil Services, who had earned extensive experience in subordinate position. Under many revenue legislations he is invariably vested with powers of collector, to be exercised within his jurisdiction. He also hears appeals as Collector of the subdivision, against the orders of Assistant Collector, Grade II (Tahsildars and Naib-Tahsildars) and Assistant Collector, Grade I (Tehsidars in partition cases). He exercises direct control over the Tahsildars and their staff in the subdivision. He is the normal channer of correspondence between the Deputy Commissioner and the Tahsildar in his subdivision.
The powers and responsibilities of the Sub Divisional Officer relating to revenue, magisterial, executive and development matters within his jurisdiction, are analogous to those of the Deputy Commissioner. His revenue duties include supervision and inspection of all matters from assessment to collection of land revenue: co-ordination of work of all officials in the subdivision particularly in the departments or Revenue, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Public Health within the subdivision.
His magisterial duties are: liaison and co-ordination with police in the subdivision; watch over the relations between various communities and classes; special precautions and actions in emergency, especially connected with festivals and recommendations to the District Magistrate, when he is himself not competent, for grant of arms licences. He has ample powers under the Criminal Procedure Code, the Punjab Police Rules, and other laws to exercise effective supervision over the law and order situation in his area.
In his executive capacity, he can call for any other records and registers which deal with crime from a police station and can call the Station House Officer to come to him to explain the matters. He can bind down anti-social elements for peaceful conduct over a period. He commands closer contacts with the public and more intimate association with the local bodies and market committees. He also plays an important role in the rural development programmes. He needs co-operation and help from other Government officials in subdivision for the smooth running of administration and successful implementation of development schemes. On important policy matters, however, he is required to route the matters through the Deputy Commissioner.
For the elections to the Vidhan Sabha, he is generally appointed as Returning Officer for the constituency/constituencies in his jurisdiction. For elections to the Lok Sabha constituencies, he is generally appointed as Assistant Returning Officer.
Tahsildars and Naib-Tahsildars – The Tahsildars and Naib-Tahsildars are the day officers in the revenue administration and exercise the powers of the Assistant Collector, Grade II and Sub-registrars and Joint Sub-registrars for registration work. While deciding partition cases, the Tahsildar assumes powers of Assistant Collectors Grade I. As a senior Revenue Officer of the tahsil and as overall in charge there of, a Tahsildar has powers of co-ordination and distributing work among Circle Revenue Officers, the Naib-Tahsildars and himself. All recommendations in lambardari cases, even in the revenue circles of Naib-Tahsildars, are routed through him to the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) and the Deputy Commissioner.
The Tahsildars and Naib-Tahsildars are responsible for collection of land revenue and other dues payable to the Government for maintaining records and crops statistics. They are principally responsible for maintenance of revenue. To remain in touch with the subordinate revenue staff, to observes the seasonal conditions and condition of crops, and to listen to the difficulties of the cultivators, the Tahsildars and Naib-Tahsildars have to tour extensively in the area of their jurisdiction. They decide urgent metters on the spot, like correction of entries in the revenue records providing relief to the people faced with natural calamities. On their return from tour, they prepare reports and recommend to the Government remission or suspension of land revenue and bring the records up to date. They also sit in the courts to settle disputes of tenancy, arrears of rent, efectment of tenants, entries in account books, etc. besides doing other kind of work.
For elections to the Vidhan Sabha, a Tahsildar is, invariable appointed as Assistant Returning Officer for the constituency/constituencies falling in his tahsil.
Kanungo – He is an important link between the Tahsildars/Naib-Tahsildars and the Patwari. The main duties of a Kanungo are to supervise the work of the Patwaris. Each Tahsildar is assisted by an office Kanungo, besides a number of Field Kanungos. The main duty of an office Kanungo is to consolidate the information on different aspects of revenue administration. Similarly, in the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, there is a sadr Kanungo who inter-alia is incharge of Patwaris ` and Kanungos` establishments and carries out inspection of patwar Circles and Kanungo Circles.
Special Kanungo or Patwari Moharrir makes the information contained in revenue records, accessible to the litigating public and to the courts, by preparing extracts from the revenue records. Special Kanungo assists the courts of law in the examination of revenue records by giving evidence and by putting the records before the court and by drawing attention to those parts of the records which the courts ought to examine.
Patwaris– Whereas, the Deputy Commissioner is regarded as the pivot of the district administration, the Patwari is the representative of Government at the village level. Upto 1906, he was paid by the village itself, but now he is salaried Government employee. He has usually one or two villages in his charge. His local knowledge is so extensive that there is hardly any information about the village and its inhabitants of which is not aware of or which he cannot make a guess. As such, he is viewed as the eyes and ears of the Collector.
The duties of Patwari include conducting of surveys field inspections, recording of crops, revision of maps or reports relating to mutations, partitions, revenue or rents, etc. under the orders of the Collector, he prepares the records of rights. He is also required to assist in providing relief to agriculturists in distress and renders basic service in the decennial in census operations. He reports the crime and prepares maps to illustrate police inquires. His special duty is the preparation of dhal bachh (papers regarding distribution of revenue over holdings) since the actual preparation of village records and revenue statistics rests with the Patwaris. The Faridkot District is divided into 353 patwar circles, each circle being looked after by a Patwari who works under the immediate supervision of the Kanungo concerned.
Lambardars–Lambardar (a non-official) is most important functionary in the administration. He is responsible for the collection of revenue dues for Government from various sources and to remit these into treasury. He is given 5 per cent of land revenue collection which is called pachotra. In addition to his cuties of land revenue collections, he looks after the law and order in his area and any breach thereof is reported by him to the nearest police station. He also reports to the Tahsildars about the deaths of assignees and pensioners and their absence for over a year. Above all, he is the representative of Government in the village. He is assisted in his work by the village Chowkidar.
The Community Development Programme (now known as Rural Development Programme) was launched on 2 October 1952 to raise the living standard and to ameliorate the lot of the rural people. The entire district of Faridkot has been brought under this programme. The district is divided into 10 development blocks viz., Faridkot, Kot Kapura, Moga-1, Moga II, Bagha Purana, Nihalsinghwala, Muktsar, Malaut, Lambi and Giddarbaha. For each block, there is a Block Development and Panchayat Officer, who is under the control of Chairman of the Panchayat Samiti, the Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) of the subdivisional and the District Development and Panchayat Officer of the district, besides being under the overall control of the Deputy Commissioner.
The Block Development and Panchayat Officer is responsible for the successful implementation of development schemes in his block. He also guides and supervises the work of other departments in his block. He is assisted by a Social Education and Panchayat Officer, of Mukhya Sevika, a Junior Engineer, a number of Gram Sevikas and Gram Sevikas, besides other ministerial Class III and Class IV staff.
(d) General Arrangement for Disposal of Business
In addition to the Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Tahsildars and Block Development and Panchayat Officers, the Deputy Commissioner Faridkot, is also assisted by an Additional Deputy Commissioner, a General Assistant to Deputy Commissioner, a District Officer Removal of Grievances, a District Revenue officer, a District Transport Officer a District Development and Panchayat Officer and Executive Magistrates, in day-to-day duties concerning law and order and other functions. The functions of each of these officers are discussed below in brief:
Additional Deputy Commissioner – The post of Additional Deputy commissioner was created with a view to providing relief to the Deputy Commissioner. Additional Deputy Commissioner enjoys the various powers under the various Acts, such as Land Revenue Act, 1887; Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887; land Acquisition Act, 1894; Indian Stamp Act, 1899; Registration Act 1908; Punjab Municipal Act, 1911 Punjab Registration of Mortgage Land Act, 1938; Punjab Occupancy and Tenant (vesting of proprietary Rights) Act, 1952; Indian Arms Act, 1959 and Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1973. He disposes of the court work as appellate court of two Acts. He is District Magistrate under Code of Criminal Procedure and in the absence of Deputy Commissioner, he is supposed to maintain the law and order situation in the district. He also carries out the inspection of various officers such as Sub-Divisional Officer (civil), Tahsildars, Naib-Tahsildars, Sub-Registrars and Treasury Officers in the district. The work of flood relief control and correspondence relating to terrorist affected persons is dealt by the Additional Deputy Commissioner.
General Assistant– He is the Deputy Commissioner’s personal executive officer and assists him in all his executive and administrative functions. As such, he is the principal administrative officer and attends to routine correspondence, attestation, complaints, etc. he does little or no touring, as he has to keep a vigilant eye on the office. Most of the branches of the Deputy Commissioner’s officer are under his supervision. He is competent to correspond with the Punjab Government and other departments in routine matters. He also deals with security and revenue cases.
District Revenue Officer– District Revenue Officer, Faridkot assists the Deputy Commissioner in all his revenue functions. He is responsible for the proper and correct maintenance of revenue records: revenue accounts, muafis, assignments, jagirs, etc. and service records of the Patwaris and Kanungos, District Revenue Accountant, Registration and Land Acquisition branches of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office. He attends the routine correspondence of all revenue branches. He deals with the cases under Land Revenue Act, 1887, regarding the contested mutations, partition cases, etc. he is required to watch the progress of the recovery of all government dues in the district and to keep the Deputy Commissioner informed about the pace of recovery. He works as a Flood Control Officer and also acts as Nodal Officer at the time of natural calamities. He assists the Deputy Commissioner in carrying out the inspection of tahsils, sub-tahsils, acts on his behalf for organizing special girdawaris for natural calamities, floods, etc. he is also responsible for pursuing the progress of land reforms cases in various courts and watches the interest of the State. On behalf of the Deputy Commissioner, he is responsible for the submission of the statements regarding the disposal of miscellaneous revenue work in the district every quarter to the Commissioner of the Division and half-yearly to the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Punjab.
District Officer, Removal of Grievances – He is a Class I Officer who primarily deals with the complaints made by the public regarding Revenue Department as well as all other State Government departments. He submits the reports to the Deputy Commissioner, after making enquiries into the complaints made by the people to him, or to the Deputy Commissioner or other higher authorities. As a Secretary, he convenes the monthly meeting of Public Grievances Committee of the District. These meetings are attended by the officers/officials as well as non-official representatives besides all MLA’a and MP’a who are ex-officio members of the committee. He is also responsible for the implementation of the decisions taken by the Chairman of the Public Grievances Committee and ensures that the agenda as well as proceedings of the monthly meeting are issued well in time. He is also entrusted with some revenue work as Assistant Collector Grade I.
District Transport Officer– He is Executive Magistrate and is a member of the Punjab Civil Service. His duties and functions are to realise road tax in respect of all types of vehicles; to regulate the operation of vehicles of all categories covered under the Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1988; to issue and renew the driving licences and conductor licences; to issue authorization to drive public service vehicles; to issue special passes for stage carriages/taxis cars for marriage and tour parties; to inspect transport vehicles and grant certificate of fitness in respect of such vehicles for which technical assistance is provided by the Motor Vehicles Inspector (MVI) ; to checking and survey of routes. The District Transport Officer is the Chairman of Condemnation Board, which condemns the vehicles of all government departments.
During the year 1992-93, the District Transport Officer, Faridkot issued 6,757 learners permits for driving of vehicles, 5,359 new driving licences and renewed 4,718 driving licences.
Executive Magistrate – Executive Magistrates normally belong to the State Civil Service. They help the Deputy Commissioner in the maintenance of law and order. There are three Executive Magistrates in Faridkot District functioning at Faridkot, Moga and Giddarbaha.
District Development and Panchayat Officer–He co-ordinates the activities of all departments in the district which are engaged in development activities. The Development Branch of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, which deals with the development programmes functions under his supervision. All the Block Development and Panchayat Officers in the district are under his control and he is required to see that the Rural Development Programme is implemented in right earnest in the district.
Registration – The Deputy Commissioner is the Registrar for the district under the Indian Registration Act, 1908 and in that capacity he is responsible for registration work in the district. In the Faridkot District, the Registrar is assisted by 4 Tahsildars as sub-Registrars, one each in the tahsils of Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar and Malaut and by 8 Naib-Tahsildars as Joint Sub-Registrars, one each at Faridkot, Jaito, Moga, Nihalsinghwala, Muktsar, Giddarbaha, malaut and Lambi. The Sub-Registrar and the Joint Sub-Registrar do registration work in addition to their own duties for which they get monthly honorarium.
The Sub-Registrar and Joint Sub-Registrars, registers the documents pertaining to the properties situated in their jurisdiction. The Registrar is however, empowered to register any document from any tahsil of his district. He hears appeals and applications referred to him under sections 72 and 73 of the Indian Registration Act, 1908, against refusal to register documents by the Sub-Registrars and Joint Sub-Registrars under him.
A head Registration Clerk assists the Registrar at the district headquarters and clerks/readers assists the performing the registration work.
District Attorney – Prior to 1960, criminal and civil work on behalf of Government was done by the Public Prosecutor and Government Pleader, respectively. In 1960 the post of the District Attorney was created in the State to attend to the civil and criminal cases in the courts on the behalf of the Government. He works under the administrative control of the Director, Prosecution and Litigation, Punjab. As on 31 March 1993, the District Attorney, Faridkot was assisted by 4 Deputy District Attorneys, 12 Assistant District Attorneys besides other ministerial staff. He performs two important functions as public Prosecutor as well as Government Pleader. On the Prosecution side (criminal cases) he acts as Public Prosecutor and on the civil side he acts as Government Pleader. As Government Pleader he defends and pleads cases for and on behalf of Government in the civil courts.
Oath Commissioner – There were 53 Oath Commissioners in Faridkot District as on 31 March 1993, out of which 31 were functioning at Moga, 8 at Faridkot, 7 at Muktsar, 5 at Giddarbaha, 1 at Malaut and 1 at Jaito. They are practicing lawyers. Their work is to assist the public in preparing and authenticating important legal documents. They charge Rs 5 as attestation fee for an affidavit.
Notary Public – Notary Public is also generally a practicing lawyer, who is authorized by the Government for a period of 3 years, to function as Notary Public for attesting documents like wills, special powers of attorneys and copies of all documents on specified charges. He is also authorized to translate documents on payment approved by the Government. There were 8 Notary Publics functioning in the district as on 31 March 1993 (3 at Muktsar, 2 at Faridkot, 2 at Moga and 1 at Giddarbaha).
The District Committees have been constituted in order to accelerate the disposal of business. Their meetings are held at the district headquarters under the Chairmanship of the Minister/Deputy Commissioner. The following committees have been constituted in the Faridkot District: --
(1) District Loans Committees
(2) District Public Grievances Committee
(3) District Planning Board Committee
(4) District Law And Order Committee
(5) District Agricultural Production Committee
(6) Committee To Review The Working Of Municipal Committees
(7) Nehru Rozgar Yojana Committee
(8) Committee To Review The Problems Of Pensioners Implements
(f)
State and Central Government Officers
The following State and Central Government Officers are posted in the Faridkot District : -
(1) Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot
(2) Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Faridkot
(3) Senior Superintendent of Police, Faridkot
(4) District and Sessions Judge, Faridkot
(5) Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry, Faridkot
(6) Deputy Economic and Statistical Advisor, Faridkot
(7) Deputy Director, Horticulture, Faridkot
(8) Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Faridkot
(9) General Assistant of Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot
(10) Assistant Director, Fisheries, Faridkot
(11) District Transport Officer, Faridkot
(12) District Development and panchayat Officer, Faridkot
(13) District Revenue Officer, Faridkot
(14) Civil Surgeon, Faridkot
(15) District Public Relations Officer, Faridkot
(16) District Education Officer (Secondary), Faridkot
(17) District Language Officer, Faridkot
(18) Divisional Forest Officer, Faridkot Forest Division, Muktsar
(19) District Food and Supplies Controller, Faridkot
(20) District Sports Officer, Faridkot
(21) District Social Welfare Officer, Faridkot
(22) District Treasury Officer, Faridkot
(23) District Welfare Officer, Faridkot
(24) Commandant, District Home Guards, Faridkot
(25) Superintendent, District Jail, Faridkot
(26) District Co-ordinator, Nehru Youth Centre, Faridkot
(27) District Employment Officer, Faridkot
(28) District Education Officer (Primary), Faridkot
(29) District Attorney, Faridkot
(30) Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Faridkot
(31) Assistant Employment Officer, Moga
(32) Assistant Employment Officer, Muktsar
(33) Chief Agricultural Officer, Faridkot
(34) Executive Magistrate, Faridkot
(35) Executive Magistrate, Moga
(36) Executive Magistrate, Giddarbaha
(37) Divisional Soil Conservation Officer, Faridkot
(38) Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Faridkot
(39) Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Moga
(40) Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Muktsar
(41) Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) Malaut
(42) Tahsildar, Moga
(43) Tahsildar, Muktsar
(44) Tahsildar, Malaut
(45) Tahsildar, Faridkot
(46) Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Faridkot
(47) Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Kot Kapura
(48) Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Muktsar
(49) Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Kot Bhai
(50) Block Development and Panchayat Office, Lambi
(51) Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Moga-I
(52) Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Moga- II
(53) Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Nihalsingh Wala
(54) Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Bagha Purana
(55) Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Malaut
(56) Superintending Engineer, PWD, Public Health, RWS Circle, Faridkot
(57) Executive Engineer, PWD, Public Health, (RWS), Division, Faridkot
(58) Executive Engineer, PWD, Public Health (RWS) Malaut
(59) Executive Engineer, PWD, Public Health (RWS), Moga
(60) Executive Engineer, PWD, Public Health (RWS), Faridkot
(61) Executive Engineer, PWD, Public Health (RWS), Muktsar
(62) Executive Engineer, PWD, Public Health (RWS), Muktsar
(63) Superintending Engineer, Construction Circle PWD, (B& R), Faridkot
(64) Executive Engineer, Canal Division, Faridkot
(65) Executive Engineer, Drainage Construction Divisional, Faridkot
(66) Executive Engineer, Roads and Bridges Division, PWD, (B &R), Faridkot
(67) Executive Engineer, Provincial Division, PWD, (B & R), Faridkot
(68) Executive Engineer, Rural Works Division, PWD, (B & R), Moga
(69) Executive Engineer, Rural Works Division, PWD, (B & R), Muktsar
Central
Government Officers
(1)
Income Tax Officer, Faridkot
(2)
Deputy Inspector General, Border Security Force,
Faridkot
(3)
Sub Divisional Officer (Telephones), Faridkot
(4)
District Manager, Food Corporation of India, Faridkot
(5) Senior Superintendent, Post Offices, Faridkot
REVENUE ADMINISTRATION
(a)
Land Revenue administration
(i) History of Land
Revenue Assessment and Management
The History
of land revenue of the Faridkot District is somewhat complicated, as the
district has been carved out from the areas of erstwhile Princely State of
Faridkot and former British Territory. Prior to 1947, some of its area was a
Princely State with a definite territory. After 1947, erstwhile Princely State
of Faridkot became part of PEPSU and was made a tahsil of Bathinda District. On
7 August 1972, it has been created an independent district by taking out
Faridkot Tahsil from Bathinda District and Moga and Muktsar tahsils from
Firozpur District. The mew district has four tahsils viz. Faridkot, Moga,
Malaut and Muktsar. So the district has a different land revenue history for
each part.
Pre-British Revenue System– In the areas previously
falling in the Firozpur District, which was a British Territory, no information
is available as regards the method of revenue collections used by the mughals
in that area. As regards the Sikhs, it seems that the Lahore and Ahluwalia
government used to take their revenue in cash, but the sum was fixed only for
short periods; they sometimes reverted to collections in kind. The Raja of
Faridkot took his revenue in kind. The Bhais of Arnauli in the Kot Bhai ilaka,
who received the status of Jagirdars at annexation of this part of Punjab in
1840, continued to collect the revenue assigned to them in kind up till the
1872 settlement.
Summary Settlements – The summary settlements
were made for the different parts of the Firozpur District as and when these
came under British rule. The eastern part of the Moga Tahsil, when first
annexed, was included in the old “Wudnee” (Badhni) District was summarily
settled by Campbell. No definite information is forthcoming regarding this or
the summary settlement of this area. The assessments were based on the
collections of Sikh predecessors with the result that the Muhammadan Bet was
assessed considerably higher than the Sikh uplands.
The summary settlement of
the Muktsar pargana was carried out in 1846 by J. Daniell, but the Kot Bhai
ilaka, was left unassessed.
The Muktsar chak
was assessed at 5 annas per ghumaon and Kot Kapura at 7 annas. There was
a good deal of trouble in this tract, but most of the villages came round at
last and they appointed one Hira Mal to be a sort of contractor on their part.
But they had scarcely done so when another dispute arose. It was never intended
that the villages should pay 7 annas per ghumaon all around. It was intended
that the good villages should pay 8 annas, the middling one 7 annas and the
poor ones 6 annas. The good villages refused to allow the contractor to take 8
annas from them and were still petitioning and appealing when suddenly 88 of
the 117 villages were made over to the Raja of Faridkot. The summary settlement
was intended to last three years, but continued till the Regular Settlement in
1853-54.
The Malaut
pargana of Fazilka Tahsil was summarily settled by Captain Thoreshy in 1837-38.
Pargana Wattuan was summarily assessed by Mr. Vans Agnew in 1844. Other estates
seem to have been summarily assessed as they were colonised.
Regular Settlements – Mr. F. L. Brandreth
carried out the Regular settlement of the Moga Tahsil and Muktsar pargana. This
settlement ran for thirty years except in Muktsar where having been originally
sanctioned for ten years it ran till 1872-73.
Revisions of the Regular Settlement– K. B. Francis revised the
assessment of the whole of the old Firozpur District (including Muktsar Moga
tahsils) between the years 1884 and 1891. The term sanctioned for Muktsar
Tahsil was 20 years. Francis raised the assessment considerably, the percentage
of increase being 61 per cent in Moga and 69 per cent in Muktsar. These figures
were calculated on a comparison of the total demand of the last year of the
expiring settlement with that of the first year of the new demand including khush
haisiyati, or water advantage rate on irrigation done by the Grey Canals,
which was imposed for the fist time by Francis.
Revised Settlement, 1910-15– The Settlement of 1910-15
was the second revision of the assessment for Moga Tahsil and the third
revision in Muktsar and Fazilka tahsils. Operations commenced in November 1910
and settlement was closed in the spring of 1915. The assessment was carried out
by M. M. L. Currie, Settlement Officer.
The following table shows
in a summary form the result of the re-assessment of the different parts of
Moga, Muktsar and Fazilka tahsils: -
Summary
from the result of the re-assessment of the different part of Moga, Muktsar and
fazilka tahsil
|
Tract |
Old
Demand |
Total
(Rs) |
New
Demand |
Total (Rs) |
Percentage
of |
|||
|
Fixed last year(Rs) |
Fluctuating average(Rs) |
Fixed final (Rs) |
Fluctuating estimaged (Rs) |
Increase column 7 on column 4 |
True half net assets absorbed |
|||
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
Moga |
3,87,334 |
2,776 |
3,90,110 |
6,36,319 |
7,707 |
6,44,026 |
65 |
40 |
|
Muktsar Proper |
1,68,336 |
3,727 |
1,72,063 |
2,68,655 |
5,072 |
2,73,727 |
59 |
38 |
|
Fazilka |
1,49,929 |
35,218 |
1,85,147 |
2,96,327 |
37,221 |
3,33,548 |
80 |
371/2 |
The most
important ground for enhancement of the revenue was the rise in prices and the
greatly increased value of land. The actual rice in the prices may at a
moderate estimate by put at 50 per cent in the last 20 years, while the value
of land doubled at least and in some parts even quadrupled within the same
period. Secondly, in the tract irrigated by the Sirhind Canal, no account had
been taken of the value of the profits of canal irrigation at previous
settlements. Thirdly, the previous assessment had everywhere been extremely
lenient when originally imposed. Fourthly, in Muktsar and to still greater
extent in Fazilka, there had been a considerable extension in cultivable area.
Land Revenue system in erstwhile Faridkot
Princely State –
In the area falling in Faridkot Princely State a rough attempt was made in 1838
at measuring certain villages in Faridkot ilaqa. This was known as ghore
kacch or measurement on horseback. In Kot Kapura, rough boundaries had been
laid down and areas recorded by Mr. Daniell before that tract was restored to
Raja Pahar Singh for his services in the Sutlej Compaign. The first real
attempt at settlement took place during the year 1860-65 under the direction of
Lala Moti Ram. No regular assessment was announced at that time as most of the
revenue was paid in kind. The usual rate being 1/5 share of the crop, but
useful papers were compiled showing the occupants of the land with the period
for which they had then been cultivating it. As a general rule, founders of
villages who had settled before 1844 were held to be the property of the Raja.
These operations cannot be classed as anything but a summary settlement and
little was settled as to the rights of tenants and owners. In 1880 commenced
what is known as Lala Daulat Ram’s Settlement. The operations of this settlement
dragged on interminably and were never satisfactorily completed; measurements
were completed to 1885, but areas were not computed and the revenue assessment
was not announced till 1889. Records of rights were not ready till 1900 and it
was till then that malkana was assessed; even at that date the records of
rights of three large villages were not completed, their preparation continuing
till 1907.
In this settlement the utar
and hithar circles were distinguished, soils were classified for the
first time, customary law was discussed and occupancy tenants were classed in
accordance with the Punjab Tenancy Act (this last not being done till 1891).
Rates varying from 10 to 13
annas a ghumaon were adopted in the hithar, whilst in the utar they
varied between 11 annas 6 pies and 14 annas. But revenue in kind was retained
in 13 to 14 villages and not finally abolished till 1904.
The total land revenue
assessed was just over three and a half lakhs of rupees. In addition to this
rules were framed for the collection of various dues connected with land such
as succession fees; dharat, tirni and mudakheri, whilst the State
was recorded as having various rights over trees, fuel, etc.
The length of the
operations was mainly caused by delays and interruptions in the work of the
staff, these naturally led to faulty incomplete work; great dissatisfaction was
felt with the way rights in the land dissatisfaction was felt with the way
rights in the land had been recorded and this led to the passing of a special
Act (r of 1907) creating a right similar to a right of occupancy which was
conferred on various tenants previously recorded as tenants-at-will, and
ultimately to the operations of the present settlement which were started in
the same year.
Another settlement was
carried out during the years 1907 to 1910 by Chaudhri Kesar Ram. The term of
Lala Daulat Ram’s Settlement which was for 12 years had expired in 1901, but
the new settlement was started with a view to determine the true rights in the
land rather than with the idea an increase of revenue. The State was again
divided into two assessment circles, the utar and the hithar, the
classification of soil was altered and five soils were recognized karar (awal
and doam) and tibbi.
Measurement was done on the
square lying system, the original five foot karm of the previous settlement was
retained, the measure of area being:
1 square karm = 1 Sarsahi
9 sarsahis = 1 marla
20 marlas =1 kanal
8 kanals =
1 ghumaon
The following circle rates
were adopted for the different classes of soil: -
|
Soil |
|
Hither |
|
|
Utar |
|
|
|
Rs |
Annas |
Pie
|
Rs |
Annas |
Pie |
|
0 |
15 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Karar
II |
0 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
|
Gasra
I |
0 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
|
Gasara
II |
0 |
11 |
6 |
0 |
12 |
6 |
|
Tibbi |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|
Banjar |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
No khush haisiyati
or water advantage rate was charged on account of canal irrigation, this being
the custom throughout the land served by the Sirhind Canal.
The resulting assessment
amounted to Rs 3,89,985 which entailed an increase of Rs 37,493 and was
announced for a term of 30 years. The total expenditure on the Settlement was
estimated at Rs 95,970.
Working of the Settlement
of 1910-15—The assessment made in the settlement operations in 1910—15 was done
for re-assessment after 30 years. But, it could not be undertaken on account of
the World War II (1939-45) followed by the partition of the country and its
Independence in 1947. The term of the settlement conducted in 1907-10 in
Faridkot Princely State was also 30 years. Therefore, the land revenue,
continued to be the same as was fixed in the last settlements.
(ii) Collection of Land Revenue – The revenue collection is
the responsibility of the First Regular Settlement (1853-54) areas of the Moga
and Muktsar Tahsils of the district, village lambardars were required to
collect the land revenue from concerned communities of landowners. All the
lambardars, wherever possible, were appointed headman to compose the claims of
rural claimants in regular settlement. In the area of princely state of
Faridkot, lambardars were also responsible for collection of land revenue. The
vacancies of lambardars, which fell vacant due to the migration of the Muslim
lambardars in 1947, were filled up by the permanent evacuee lambardars. The
hereditary claim of lambardars are still in vogue.
The Zaildari system
was introduced during the settlement of 1884-91 in Moga, Muktsar and Malaut
areas to assist the lambardars in realization of the revenue arrears. The ala
lambardars appointed in 1879, had beena failure. In 1909, it was decided to do
away with this institution gradually. In their place, sufedposhes were
appointed. Zaildars and sufedposhes were appointed in 1910-15 in
Faridkot Princely State.
Since the beginning of the
Third Regular Settlement in 1910-15, vacancies of ala lambardars were not filed
and, in their place, it was decided to create sufedposhi imams. Till
1948, the agencies of zaildars, sufedposhi inams and lambardars
continued to be responsible for the collection of land revenue. Zaildars and sufedpohshes
were paid from a portion, usually one per cent of the land revenue, which was
set aside for the purpose. Keeping in view the evils of Zaildari system the
agencies of zaildars and sufedposhi were abolished in 1948. With the
introduction Panchyati Raj and political awakening of the people of rural areas
made them more conscious, which led an increase in the incedence of evasion of
land revenue. This affected the position of lambardars considerably. In order
to check the evasion of land revenue and strengthen the position of lambardars,
the superior posts of railcars and invaders were again created. These were
again abolished in 1964 leaving the lambardars alone in the field of revenue
collection.
Since then it is only the
lambardars who collect the land revenue in the State. For this he is paid 5 per
cent of the land revenue collection called pachotta. In this work he is
assisted by the village chowkidar. If, the lambardar is unable to collect the
land revenue, he is required to inform to the Tahsildar in writing who helps
him in effecting recovery. At present, Harijan lambardars have also been
appointed, but they are not authorized to collect land revenue, etc. they can only
attest the bail bonds in the courts.
Lambardars are also
responsible to collect abiana for which they are paid 3 per cent as
collection charges.