Civil
Justice
As far as civil cases are concerned, the Senior
Subordinate Judge, Faridkot hears cases, guardianship succession appellate work
upto certain limit. The pecuniary cases are instituted in his court and are distributed
by him amongst the Subordinate
Sub-Judges posted in the district, who have been vested with the powers of
unlimited jurisdiction of civil nature in their areas including rent cases,
succession certificates, etc.
As on 31 March 1993, the District and Sessions Judge,
Faridkot, was assisted by an Additional District and Sessions Judge, and two
Sub-Judicial Magistrate, one Senior Sub-Judge and two Sub-Judges.
Number of cases tries by the Civil Court in the
Faridkot District during the years 1975, 1980 and 1985 to 1993 are given below:
|
Year |
Cases pending
from the previous year |
Instituted during
the year |
Total for disposal
|
Disposed of during
the year |
Balance at the
close of the year |
|
1975 |
2,020 |
3,080 |
5,100 |
2,591 |
2,509 |
|
1980 |
2,674 |
3,909 |
6,583 |
3,743 |
2,840 |
|
1985 |
4,773 |
5,880 |
10,653 |
5,584 |
5,069 |
|
1986 |
5,069 |
6,139 |
11,208 |
5,768 |
6,440 |
|
1987 |
5,440 |
6,466 |
11,906 |
5,359 |
6,547 |
|
1988 |
6,547 |
7,417 |
13,964 |
6,495 |
7,459 |
|
1989 |
7,469 |
8,034 |
15,503 |
6,715 |
8,788 |
|
1990 |
8,788 |
9,274 |
18,066 |
8,339 |
9,727 |
|
1991 |
9,727 |
10,281 |
20,008 |
10,623 |
9,385 |
|
1992 |
9,385 |
8,265 |
18,455 |
10,035 |
8,420 |
|
1993 |
8,420 |
7,526 |
14,946 |
9,026 |
6,920 |
(Source: Assistant Registrar (Civil
& Criminal), Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh)
Prosecuting Agency – Previously the Government cases in the civil courts and
in the Sessions’ Courts were represented by District Attorney and Assistant District
Attorney who were controlled by the Legal Remembrancer. They were assisted by
Public Prosecutors appointed by the Government from amongst the members of the
Bar. The Prosecuting Agency conducted the criminal cases for the State in the
courts of the magistrates.
But the Prosecuting Agency was separated from the
police Department with effect from 1 April 1974. The posts of prosecuting
Deputy Superintendents of Police, Prosecuting Inspector and Prosecuting
Sub-Inspectors in the Police Department were abolished and Directorate in the
Police Department were abolished and Directorate of Prosecution and Litigation
was set up in the State under the administrative control of the State Home
Department.
In the district, the prosecuting Agency is divided in
two wings, namely, District Prosecuting Agency, and Legal Advisory Agency. The
head of prosecuting Agency in the district is the District Attorney who is
assisted by Assistant District Attorney
who is assisted by Assistant District Attorneys Grade I, and Assistant District
Attorneys Grade II, who have been appointed as Additional Public Prosecutors
and Assistant Public prosecutors respectively under the Code of Criminal
Procedure and are also appointed as Government pleaders under the Code of Civil
Procedure. Thus, the District Attorney, with the assistance of Assistant Grade-
II, conducts criminal and civil cases of the State and its officers in the
various courts in the district. The District Attorney appears in the court of
Sessions Judge, the Assistant District Attorney Grade-I in the court of
Additional Sessions Judge, whereas the Assistant District Attorneys Grade- II
work as Assistant Public Prosecutors, in the courts of the Magistrates. They
also advise the District Magistrate and other heads of Offices in the district
on matters involving legal points. The District Magistrate in the district,
supervises and controls the functioning of the prosecuting Agency.
With the abolition of the posts of Prosecuting Deputy
Superintendents of Police, Prosecuting Inspectors and Prosecuting
Sub-Inspectors in 1974, the Police Department was left with no Law Officers who
could guide them in legal matters. One Assistant District Attorney (Legal) is
posted in the police Department to render legal advice to the Senior Superintendent
of Police and other Police Officers in the district. The Assistant District
Attorney (Legal), the district. In charge of Legal Advisory Agency, is on the
cadre strength of the Directorate of Prosecution and Litigation but is posted
in the Police Department under the direct control of Senior Superintendent of
Police. The Assistant District Attorney in the Legal Advisory Agency is liable
to be shifted to the Prosecuting Agency after two or three years and vice
verse.
The District Attorney, Faridkot, as in charge of the
prosecuting Agency, was assisted by one Deputy District Attorney and one
Assistant District Attorney as 31 March 1993.
Previously, the prosecution and Litigation
Department, Punjab provided free legal aid to the poor persons as defined in
the Punjab State Grant of Free Legal Service and Advice to the Poor Rules,
1977. For this purpose, Legal Aid Bureau has been set up throughout the State.
But it was on 6 December 1990 that the Punjab State Legal Service Board came
into existence under the Punjab State Grant of Free Legal Service to the Poor
Rules 1990. It was in March 1991 that the Directorate of Legal Services created
by that legislation took a few initial steps. The main features of the scheme
are: to provide free legal services to all eligible persons including those
belonging to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and economically weaker
sections of the society; to organize Lok Adalats in the State of Punjab in
order to provide cheap, conciliatory and expeditious workshops, para-legal
literacy camps and conferences for creating awareness in the public of the aims
of legal service programmes.
Each District Level Legal Service Committee is Headed
by the District and Sessions Judge (as Chairman with the Deputy Commissioner as
proposed Co-Chairman) having official and non-official members. Similarly the
Chairman of the Sub Divisional Level Committee is the Additional Senior
Sub-Judge or Sub-Committee again has mixed official and non-official members
with Sub Divisional Magistrate as the Co-Chairman.
The Director, Legal Services, Punjab is in turn
assisted by two officers of the Superior Judicial Service i.e. of the rank of
Additional District and Sessions Judge with the technical designation of Member
Secretary, District Level Committees (their headquarters being Patiala at
Chandigarh and Jalandhar) who are also being re-designated as Additional
Directors, Legal Services. Each of these officers is in charge of 6 Sessions
Divisions or districts of the State to co-ordinate various Legal Aid
Programmes. The field staff consists of an Assistant District
Attorney-cum-Assistant Public Prosecutor-cum-Law Officer, technically
designated as Member Secretary Sub Divisional Level Legal Service Committee and
commonly known as ADA (Legal Aid). This Law Officer is posted at each of the 14
District Head-quarters to implement the various programmes including providing
of legal aid/advise to poor, managing Mediation Centres (Raazinaamas Kendra)
and organizing para-legal literacy camps/seminars/conferences at the district
and sub divisional level (in urban as well as rural areas). These officers are
stationed at the district headquarters and each of them visits sub divisional
head quarters once a week according to a fixed schedule.
Lok Adalats
The other main object of framing the said Rules of
1990 is to organize Lok Adalats to secure that the operation of the legal
system promotes cheap, conciliatory and speedy justice on the basis of equal
opportunity. The main purpose of Lok Adalats is to decide the pending court
cases by way of compromise and amicable settlement so that financial resources
and time of the litigants may be saved while their mutual enmities be reduced.
In this context, from 1 January 1993 to 31 December
1993, a total number of 195 applications (Previous Balance 2 New Applications
193) were received in the Faridkot District, out of which 34 applicants were
provided free legal advice and 161 applicants were provided free legal aid.
Gram
Panchayat Courts
With a view to decentralizing authority and to
strengthening the roots of democracy, the Punjab Gram Panchayat Act, 1952, was
passed. Under the Act, certain civil, criminal and revenue powers are vested in
the panchayats. Petty cases of various categories are disposed of by the
panchayats. This has lessened the burden of heavily occupied courts. Besides,
it has enhanced the prestige and raised the status of the panchayats. The
panchayats are competent to grant bail to an individual against a surety not
exceeding Rs 500.
On the criminal side, gram panchayat tries offences
specified in Schedule 1-A and 1-B of the Punjab Gram Panchayat Act, 1952. The
Panchayats are also competent to take cognizance suo moto of cases
falling under sections 160, 228, 264, 277, 289, 290, 294 and 510 of the Indian
Penal Code and under sections 3 and 4 of the Juvenile Smoking Act, 1918 (or any
other Act for the time being in force).
On the civil and revenue side, the panchayats are
competent to try suits for recovery of movable property or the value of such
property; suits for money or goods due on contracts of price thereof; suits for
compensation for wrongfully taking or inuring movable property; and suits
mentioned in clauses (J), (k), (I) and (n) of sub-sections (3) of section 77 of
the Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887 (or any other Act for the time being in force).
While trying such suits, the panchayat is deemed to be a civil or criminal or
revenue court as the case may be no judicial work has been done by the
panchayats in the district since 1988-89.
(e) Bar
Associations
The lawyers, who are practicing is different places
in the district, where criminal or civil court are located have formed their
own associations to look after the interests of their members. The main
objectives of these Bar Associations are; to promote the study and practice of
scientific law; to promote the interests of their members and to maintain a
high standard of professional conduct. Besides, these associations also help
the courts to administer justice and to inculcate the sense of respect for law
and order among the general people.
The Bar Association, Faridkot was constituted in 1934
on British pattern when the legal practitioners were allowed to practice law by
appearing in courts for their respective clients. It had 230 members as on 31 March
1993. Its members took a prominent share in the political, social and cultural
life of the district and many of them occupied high judicial positions.
The Bar Association, Moga is also an old one and is
said to have been formed in 1890. Its strength on 31 March 1995 was 175. The
Bar Association, Muktsar, is said to have been formed in 1915 and its strength
on 31 March 1993 was 110. The Bar Association, Giddarbaha was formed in 1993.
OTHER
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The departments functioning in the Faridkot District
which are not mentioned elsewhere in the Gazetteer, have been briefly described
in this Chapter. The general administrative set-up of these departments in the
district, their activities, jurisdiction and strength of staff as on 31 March
1993 are given as under:
It is one of the important departments of the
Government. It is responsible for execution of various developmental works of the
State. The activities of the Public Works Department may be mainly divided into
construction and maintenance of building, bridges and roads; rural water supply
works; drainage works; irrigation and lining of irrigation channels, etc. the
jurisdiction of the circles/divisions of the department are not necessarily
continued to a district. However, the circles/divisions having jurisdiction
over the Faridkot District are discussed here.
Superintending Engineer, Construction Circle, PWD (B&R), Faridkot– This circle was opened in
the district on 5 January 1986 and is functioning under the administrative
control of Chief Engineer, PWD (B & R) Patiala. The circle has 4 divisions
under its control viz. executive Engineer, Provincial Division, PWD (B & R),
Faridkot; Executive Engineer, Rural Works, PWD (B & R), Moga and Executive
Engineer, Rural Works PWD (B & R), Muktsar.
The main functions of this circle are to look after
the works relating to construction/maintenance of public buildings, roads,
bridges in the Faridkot District.
The circles is headed by Superintending Engineer. He
is assisted by 2 Superintendents Grade II, 1 Circle Head Draftsman, 2
Draftsmen, 2 Junior Draftsmen, 4 Senior Assistants Steno typist, 6
Clerks/Junior Assistant, besides miscellaneous Class IV staff.
Executive Engineer, Provincial Division, PWD (B&R), Faridkot.--- Established in 1979 this
division is headed by an Executive Engineer, who functions under the
administrative control of Superintending Engineer, Construction Circle, PWD (B &
R), Faridkot. The Executive Engineer is assisted by 1 Superintendent Grade II,
I Head Draftsmen, 1 Divisional Accountant. 2 Senior Assistants, 19
Clerks/Junior Assistants, 2 Draftsman, 2 Junior Draftsmen, besides other Class
III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.
This division has five subdivisions viz. Construction
Subdivisions, PWD (B & R), Faridkot: Construction Subdivision, PWD (B &
R), Muktsar; Construction Sub-Divisions PWD (B & R), Giddarbaha;
Construction Sub-division, PWD (B & R), Moga and construction Subdivision
(Horticulture) Faridkot. Each Sub Divisional Officer is assisted by 4 Junior
Engineers, 1 Sub Divisional Clerk and other miscellaneous Class IV staff.
Executive Engineer, Roads and Bridges Division PWD (B&R), Faridkot —This division was
establish-Executive Engineer functions under the control of Superintending
Engineer, Construction Circle, PWD (B & R), Faridkot. He is assisted by 1
Superintendent Grade II, I Head Draftsman, 2 Draftsmen, 2 Junior Draftsmen, 1
Divisional Accountant, 2 Senior Assistants, 13 Clerks/Junior Assistants,
besides other class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.
This division has four subdivisions viz. Roads and
Bridges Subdivision, PWD (B & R), Faridkot; Roads and Bridges Subdivisions,
PWD (B & R), Muktsar; Roads and Bridges Subdivision, PWD (B & R),
Malaut and Roads and Bridges Subdivisions, PWD (B & R), Moga. Sub
Divisional Officer, Faridkot is assisted by five Junior Engineers. Other three
Sub Divisional Officers are assisted by Four Junior Engineers each. One Sub
Divisional Clerk is posted in each subdivision. Besides, other miscellaneous
Class III and Class IV staff also assist each Sub Divisional Officer.
Executive Engineer, Rural Works Division, PWD (B & R), Moga– This division was opened
on 1 June 1967. The Executive Engineer is in charge of the division, who
functions under the control of Superintending Engineer, Construction Circle,
PWD (B & R), Faridkot. He is assisted by 1 Superintendent Grade II, 1 Head
Draftsman, 2 Draftsmen, 2 Junior Draftsman, 1 Divisional Accountant, 2 Senior
Assistants, 14 Clerks/Junior Assistants besides other Class III and
miscellaneous Class IV staff.
This division has four subdivisions viz. Rural Works
Subdivisions, PWD (B & R) Moga 1 and Moga II, Rural Works Subdivision PWD
(B & R), Kot Kapura I and Kot Kapura II. Each Sub Divisional Officer is
assisted by 4 Junior Engineers, 1 Sub Divisional Clerk and other miscellaneous
Class III and IV staff.
Executive Engineer, Rural Works Division, PWD
(B&R) Muktsar. – This subdivision came into existence in February 1968. The
division is being headed by an Executive Engineer. He functions under the
control of Superintending Engineer, Construction Circle, PWD ( B & R)
Faridkot. He is assisted by 1 Superintendent Grade II, 1 Head Draftsman, 2
Draftsman, 2 Junior Draftsman, 1 Divisional Accountant, 2 Senior Assistants, 15
Clerks/Junior Assistants besides other Class III and miscellaneous Class IV
staff.
This division has four subdivisions viz. Rural Works
Subdivision, PWD (B & R), Muktsar I, II, and III. The fourth subdivision is
functioning at Faridkot. Each Sub Divisional Officer is assisted by 4 Junior
Engineers, 1 Sub Divisional Clerk and other miscellaneous Class III and IV
staff.
Superintending Engineer, Public Health (Rural Water Supply), Faridkot– The Punjab PWD Public
Health (RWS) Circle is functioning since 16 September 1972 under a
Superintending Engineer. The circle is responsible for implementing the rural
water supply schemes in the Faridkot District. There are four divisions under
this circle located at Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar and Malaut. Under these
divisions there are 10 block, 553 villages covered through 236 canal based
schemes and 96 tube-well based schemes.
The Superintending Engineer is under the
administrative control of Chief Engineer, Public Health (RWS), Patiala. He is
assisted by 2 Superintendents, 2 Draftsmen, 2 Junior Draftsman, 1 Stenographer,
5 Senior Assistants, 1 Circle Head Draftsman, besides other Class III and
miscellaneous Class IV staff.
The main functions of this circle are to execute
rural water supply schemes in the area under its jurisdiction.
Executive Engineer, Public Health Division (Rural Water Supply) Faridkot
- This
division was set up on 14 August 1972. The Executive Engineer, is assisted by 1
Superintendent, 1 Divisional Accountant, 3 Senior Assistants, 1 Stenotypist, 1
Head Draftsman, 2 Draftsmen, 2 Junior Draftsmen, 8 Clerks, besides other Class
III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.
The division has 4 subdivisions viz. public Health
(RWS) Subdivision No. I, Faridkot; Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No. II,
Faridkot; Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No. II, Kot Kapura and Public Health
(RWS) Subdivision No. IV, Jaiot.
Each subdivision is under the charge of Sub
Divisional Engineer who is assisted in each sub division by 4 Junior Engineers,
1 Sub Divisional Clerk, 1 Clerk and other Clerk and other Class IV staff.
Executive Engineer, Public Health (Rural Water Supply) Division, Moga – This division was
established on 1 December 1976. The Executive Engineer is assisted by 1
Superintendent, 1 Divisional Accountant. 3 Senior Assistants, 1 Stenotypist, 1
Head Draftsman, 2 Draftsmen, 2 Junior Draftsmen, 8 Clerks, besides other Class
III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.
This division has 4 subdivisions viz. Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No. 1, Moga; Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No. II, Moga; Public Health (RWS), Subdivision No. III, Moga and Public Health (RWS), Subdivision No. IV, Moga
Each subdivision is under the charge of Sub-Divisional Engineer who is assisted in each sub-division by 4 Junior Engineers, 1 Sub Divisional Clerk, 1 Clerk and miscellaneous Class IV staff.
Executive
Engineer, Public Health (RWS) Muktsar – This
division was opened in March 1976. The Executive Engineer is assisted by 1
Superintendent, 1 Divisional Accountant, 3 Senior Assistants, 1 Steno-typist, 8
Clerks, 1 Head Draftsman, 2 Draftsmen, 2 Junior Draftsmen, besides Class III
and Class IV staff.
This division has 4 subdivisions viz. Public Health
(RWS) Subdivision No. 1, Muktsar; Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No. II
Muktsar; Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No. III, Muktsar and Public Health
(RWS) Subdivision No. IV, Muktsar.
Each subdivision is under the charge of Sub divisional Engineer who is assisted in each subdivision by 4 Junior Engineers, 1 Sub Divisional Clerk, 1 Clerk and other Class IV staff
Executive
Engineer, Public Health (Rural Water Supply), Malaut– This division was set up in February 1978. The Executive Engineer is
assisted by 1 Superintendent, 1 Divisional Accountant, 3 Senior Assistants, 1
Stenotypist, 1 Head Draftsman, 2 Draftsmen, 2 Junior Draftsmen, besides other
Class III and Miscellaneous Class IV staff.
This division has 4 subdivisions viz. Public Health
(RWS) Subdivision, Malaut; Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No. 1, Giddarbaha;
Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No. II, Giddarbaha and Public Health (RWS)
Subdivision, Killanwali.
Executive
Engineer, Drainage Construction division, Faridkot– This division was established at Faridkot on 11 August 1981. It is
being headed by Executive Engineer who functions under the administrative
control of Superintending Engineer, Drainage Construction Circle, Firozpur.
The Executive Engineer is assisted by 1
Superintendent, 1 Divisional Accountant, 2 Senior Assistants, 1 Divisional Head
Draftsman, 1 Draftsman, 1 Junior Draftsman, 1 Stenotypist, 9 Clerks/Junior
Assistants staff. It has 4 subdivisions under its control viz. Drainage
Construction Subdivision No. I and II at Muktsar, Drainage Construction
Subdivision No. III at Faridkot and Drainage Investigation Subdivision No. IV
at Muktsar. Each Sub Divisional Officer is assisted by 4 Junior Engineer, 1 Sub
Divisional Clerk and 1 Assistant Sub Divisional Clerks.
The main functions of this division are maintenance
and construction of drainage system is District Faridkot.
Executive
Engineer (Government Works) Faridkot – This
division is headed by an Executive Control of Superintending Engineer, Public
Health (Government Works) Circle, Ludhiana. It was established at Faridkot on
22 August 1991. The Executive Engineer is assisted by 1 Superintendent, 2
Senior Assistants, 1 Head Draftsman, 2 Draftsmen, 12 Junior Engineers, 5 Junior
Assistants, besides other Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.
The division has 3 subdivisions viz. Public Health
(Government Works) Subdivision I, Faridkot, Public Health (Government Works)
Subdivision II, Faridkot and Public Health (Government Works) Sub division,
Moga. Each Sub Divisional Officer was assisted by 4 Junior Engineers, 1 Sub
Divisional Clerk and 1 Assistant Sub Divisional Clerk.
The main functions of this division are to execute
and maintain the works relating to water supply, sanitary installations,
sewerage, air conditioning, air heating, hot and cold water, supply,
sterilization units, fire-fighting, medical gases supply, laundry plants,
kitchen equipments and other public health services in medical college,
hospitals, polytechnics, jails and other departments both residential and
non-residential.
(b) Co-operative Department
Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Faridkot heads this department at the district level. His office established in the district on 2 July 1975. He function at the district level under the administrative control of Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Punjab, Chandigarh. He is assisted by 3 Assistant Registrars, Co-operative Societies one each at Faridkot, Muktsar and Moga.
The office of the Assistant Registrar, Co-operative
Societies, Muktsar was established in November 1977. He is assisted by 88
Inspectors, 10 Clerks besides ministerial Class III and miscellaneous Class IV
staff. All the Co-operative Societies functioning in Muktsar, Lambi, Giddarbaha
and Malaut blocks are being supervised by him.
The officer of the Assistant Registrar, Co-operative
Societies, Moga was set up in November 1960. He is assisted by 1
Superintendent, 1 Accountant, 10 Clerks and 65 Inspectors, besides ministerial
Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff. All the co-operative societies
functioning in Moga-1 Moga-II, Bagha Purana and Nihalsinghwala blocks are under
his administrative control.
The main functions of the Co-operative Department
are to supervise the primary co-operative societies; to attend to the court
work under Co-operative Societies Act, exercising some judicial powers;
distribution of fertilizers, its management, recovery and advancement; to hold
elections of the co-operative societies; to arrange financial assistance to the
co-operative societies; to arrange distribution of essential commodities
through societies, etc.
(c) Public Relations Department
The District Public Relations Officer, Faridkot represents this department at the district level. He is under the administrative control of Director, Public Relations, Punjab, Chandigarh. His office was established at Faridkot on 7 August 1972. He is performing his duties with the assistance of 4 Assistant Public Relations Officers (including one each at Moga and Muktsar), 3 Senior Assistants (One at Muktsar), 2 Junior Assistants, 2 Clerks (1 at Moga), 3 Cinema Operators (including one at Moga and one at Muktsar), 1 Radio Mechanic, 1 Teleprinter Operator, 1 Drama Inspector, 1 Harmonium Master, 1 Table Master, 5 Actor, 1 Stage Master besides other ministerial/technical Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.
The District Public Relations Officer arranges dramas, shows, exhibit films on national integration and communal harmony. He also gives wide publicity to the policies/programmes and achievements of the Government. He also supervises/arranges social functions like blood donation camps etc. For performing his duties he used all the medial like, press, television-radio etc. he also organizes variety shows, magic shows, kavi-darbars and cover the VIP’s functions melas, youth festivals, etc. He thus serves as a liaison between the public and the State Government.
(d) Food and Supplies Department
The District Food and Supplies Controller, Faridkot is in charge of the Food and Supplies Department at the district level. He is under the administrative control of Director, Food and Supplies, Punjab, Chandigarh. The officer of the District Food and Supplies Controller was established at Faridkot on 7 August 1972. He is assisted by 3 District Food and Supplies Officers (each posted at Faridkot, Moga and Muktsar), 13 Assistant Food and Supplies Officer, 1 Superintendent, 24 Auditors, 2 Accountants, 1 Accounts Officer, 1 Sectional Officer, 1 Statistical Assistant, 70 Inspectors, 100 Sub-Inspectors, 1 Head Analyst 7 Analysts, 14 Clerks besides ministerial class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.
The District Food and Supplies Controller is responsible for the procurement of foodgrains, distribution of sugar, rice, kerosene, wheat-flour and vegetable ghee through fair price shops and the branches of co-operative/consumer’s stores in urban as well areas; issue/renewal of brick-kilns, and firewood licences; allotment of coal. Coke and cement; and checking of licenses of foodgrains, rice-hullers, rice-sellers, kerosene, ghee, rice, sugar, yarn etc.; checking of petrol pumps and cooking gas agencies. The department also maintains its own godowns for the storage of foodgrains.
As on 31 March 1993, there were 3,56,104 ration card holders (1,09,800 Rural, 2,46,304 Urban) in the district who could draw ration and other essential commodities from the 715 fair price shops (159 urban, 639 Rural) functioning in the district.
The department is represented in the district by the Treasury Officer, Faridkot who is in charge of the District Treasury. This office was established by the PEPSU Government in 1948 with its headquarters at Faridkot. The District Treasury was shifted from Faridkot to Bathinda in 1954. But was again established at Faridkot after Faridkot was created a district on 7 August 1972 and started functioning with effect from 15 August 1972. The District Treasury Officer is assisted by 7 Treasury Officers, 1 Superintendent 1 Superintendent, 1 District Treasurer, 7 Assistant Treasurers, 14 Senior Assistants, 24 Clerks/Senior Clerks/Junior Assistants besides ministerial and Class IV staff.
The main functions of Treasury Officer and Assistant Treasury Officer are to make receipts and payments on behalf of government to maintain the accounts of the government; and storage of stamps, valuables, etc. they are also responsible to the Accountant General, Punjab for the regular submission of monthly accounts and alied returns, etc.
The department is represented at the district level by the Deputy Economic and Statistical Adviser, Faridkot. This office was established in 1972. He is assisted by 1 Research Officer, 1 District Statistical Officer, 3 Research Assistants, 4 Statistical Assistants, 10 Investigators, 1 Assistant, 3 Clerks, 2 Data Entry Operators, besides miscellaneous Class IV staff.
The main functions of the Deputy Economic and Statistical Adviser are; to coordinate the statistical activities of various offices at the district level and to publish statistical date; to improve the quality of statistical work done at the district level; to conduct socio-economic surveys; to collect price date for supplying to the different Central and State agencies; to collect weekly retail prices; and to act as data bank for government institutions and interested public.
The Language Department is represented at the district level by the District Language Officer, Faridkot. Whose officer was established on 7 August 1972. He is assisted by an Instructor and 1 Scribe, 1 Peon and 1 Sweeper-cum-Chowkidar.
The main functions of the District Language Officer are; to inspect, help and guide the district offices regarding the introduction of official language i.e. Punjabi; to hold classes for teaching Punjabi, Hindi to government employees; to impart training in Punjabi typewriting and short-hand; to hold examinations in Punjabi and Hindi at district level; to assist the government offices in translating pamphlets/books in Punjabi; to organize literary seminars, dramas and kavi-darbars (poetic symposia), etc. This office also functions as a sale depot for the books published by the Language Department, Punjab.
(h) Soil Conservation Department
The Department is represented in the district by the Divisional Soil Conservation Officer, Faridkot. He is under the administrative control of the Chief Conservator of Soils, Punjab, Chandigarh. This office was established at Faridkot on 1 May 1986. He is assisted by 5 Deputy Soil Conservation Officers posted at Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar, Malaut and Giddarbaha. Each Deputy Soil Conservation Officer being assisted by 4 Soil Conservation Officer/Junior Engineers, besides other supporting staff to carry out the work/schemes of Soil Conservation Department.
The main function of the Department are to survey investigate and to propose suitable soil and water conservation treatment such as reclamation of dunes, land leveling, land development, modernization of irrigation conveyance system in the field both for the private watercourses and the tube-wells. To popularize the water conservation concept by providing sprinkler, drip irrigation, construction of field sub-surface drainage for reclamation of waterlogged areas and to guide the farmers in application of irrigation to the crops for efficient use of the available water.
The office of the District Sainik Welfare Officer, started functioning at Faridkot with effect from 7 June 1976. He is assisted by 1 Assistant District Sanik Welfare Officer, 1 Superintendent Grade II, 5 Clerks, 3 Welfare Workers, 1 Steno, besides miscellaneous Class IV staff.
The main functions of the Department are; to disseminate information to the general public regarding armed forces in the country; to keep watch over the welfare of families of servicemen and of ex-servicemen and assisting this in representing their cases to the authorities; to give information to the general public regarding conditions of service in the armed forces; to investigate the applications for relief from various military and civil charitable funds and to grant financial relief to the ex-servicemen and their dependent from the funds at their disposal.
The main welfare activities of the department are; to settle the financial problems such as pension and other retirement/release benefits/dues to ex-servicemen; to maintain close liaison with pension disbursing authorities/agencies in the district; to provide assistance for settlement of land and other disputes; to render assistance to families of serving personnel in regard to their safety/security during absence of the serving personnel; to maintain sanik welfare measures such as rest-houses for ex-servicemen, old age pensioner’s homes, Jawan’s Bhawans, vocational and other training facilities etc., to provide medical assistance for medical treatment in military/civil hospitals and to maintain liaison with other welfare organizations; to procure additional funds for the welfare measures. The Department also organizes Flag Day, orgnises rallies of ex-servicemen. It also maintains list of senior retired officers. It ensures proper maintenance of was memorials in the ensures proper maintenance of war memorials in the district.
LOCAL
SELF-GOVERNMENT
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(a) Evolution of Local-self
Government in the district
Local self-government of a district consists of municipal corporations, municipal councils, nagar panchayats, zila parishad panchayat samities and panchayats. These institutions act within the frame-work set up by a State Government and draw their powers from legislative enactment. These are manned and managed by persons drawn from among the public and are aimed to create harmonious co-ordination in keeping the administration smooth. In many respects, these institutions are autonomous, but work under the constant vigilance and guidance of the State Government.
Local self-government in the Punjab, as in other States of India, is of two kinds: the urban local government and the rural local government. The major units of the urban local government are the municipal corporations/councils, whereas minor ones are nagar panchayat. The major units of the samities and gram panchayats. The development of the local self-government in the urban areas is described here whereas that of the rural areas has been discussed under the head `panchayat Raj`
The main purpose of these self governing institutions is to provide civic amenities to the people of the area, and to promote a responsibility or will to participate in matters of local administration. These local self-government institutions also serve as training centers for the representatives who have been elected by town/city or village in providing primary political leadership and for social service.
Historical Retrospect – The history of local self-government in India dates back to the Vedic age. Effective Organisations and institutions, such as panchayats of olden days, were like the present local bodies. Though the existence of the elected city councils in ancient India cannot be denied, yet there is no doubt that the foundation of the modern system of municipal government in India was laid by the British, particularly after the transfer of power from the East India Company to the Crown.
As in other parts of India already under the British rule, the administration of local services and affairs was entrusted to the bureaucratic district administration established in Punjab, after it came under the British rule in the forties of the 19th century. Later on, however, it was decided by the Britishers to decentralize the administration gradually and this process of decentralization began to result in the establishment of a new politico administrative organisation, called municipal bodies, side by side with the existing district administration in a few towns.
Faridkot District was carved out as a separate district in 1972 by taking out the areas of Bathinda and Firozpur district. Prior to the Independence, the Faridkot Tahsil was the territory of the erstwhile princely State of Faridkot and Nabha. Moga and Muktsar tahsil were the areas of the former British territory of Firozpur District.
The earliest Act in the Punjab dealing with municipal administration was the Municipal Act, 1867, which gave a great fillip to the growth of the municipal bodies. This Act was repealed by the Municipal Act, 1873, which act was repealed by the Municipal Act, 1873, which aimed at providing for conservancy, local improvement, and education in the towns of the Punjab and for levying taxes in them. In 1882, Lord Ripon (1880-84) made the historic statement which has since been acclaimed as the Magna Carta of the local self-government in India. He realized the importance of the local self-government and made every effort to develop administration. He suggested that the principle of election should be introduced and the quantum of official members be reduced. In this way, he wanted to transfer full powers to the efficiently working popular representatives of the people. He advocated for greater fiscal autonomy and control for the local bodies to make them stronger and more capable of taking decision
The reforms proposed by Lord Ripon led to the overhauling of the Act IV of 1873 and the Punjab Municipal Act, 1884. The later Act was repealed by the Municipal Act of 1891, which only introduced such changes as experience had proved to be desirable. The act of 1884, however. Continued to be the foundation of the municipal administration in the Punjab.
The Royal Commission on decentralization, 1909, laid stress on the importance of village panchayats and recommended that the Government control upon the local self-government should be relaxed. The Punjab was the first province to incorporate the Royal Commission’s recommendations in a statute. The Punjab Municipal Act, 1911 was passed, which with certain modifications, is still the basis of the Municipal Government in the Punjab.
In the period 1919-1937, the British developed a system to be known as diarchy, which implied government shared by two pointy authorities or rules. Under these arrangements, official control was gradually relaxed and local bodies were made completely elective. It was desired to establish local self-government, whereby the people would be free to manage their own affairs. The Government of India Act, 1919, prescribed a new scheme of taxes, which could be levied by or for the local bodies. This measure not only enlarged the sphere of taxation but also enabled the local bodies to feel relatively independence. The Punjab Small Town Act, 1922 simplified the machinery for the municipal administration of small towns each with a population of less than 10,000. The Punjab Municipal (Executive Officer) Act, 1931, invested the Provincial Government with powers to appoint Executive Officers in the municipalities.
Until the Independence, the changes introduced in the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, by a series of amending Act, were relatively of a minor character. After the Independence, the Act was amended to provide for wholly elective municipal committees with democratically elected presidents. Provision was also made for the appointment of official advisers who were entitled to participate in the deliberations of the municipal committee but without right to vote. New election rules were framed to provide for elections on the basis of universal Adult franchise. Communal electrorates and the system of nominations were abandoned. Provision was also made for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes.
To cope with the problems created by the influx of refugees on account of communal disturbances before and after the partition, the East Punjab Local Authorities (Restriction of Functions) Act, 1947, Punjab Act IX of 1947, was passed. This Act empowered the State Government to notify certain areas and to assume functions of a local authority therein where the local authority was not capable of performing or did not adequately perform such functions. Expenses for discharging such functions were to be paid by the local authority concerned. The Punjab Local Authorities Laws (Exercise of Powers) Act, 1953, Provided for the performance of the functions of commissioner under all local government enactments by the State Government and the Deputy Commissioner.
The Punjab Municipal (Second Amendment) Act, 1954, repealed the Punjab Small Towns Act, 1922 and converted Town Committees into Class III Municipal Committees. This Act, which came into force on 1 April 1955, brought the governance of all urban local bodies under a unified corpus of municipal law.
In 1954, Local Government (Urban) Enquiry Committee was set up to recommend reforms in the structure of urban local Government. The committee in its report, 1957, recommended enlargement of autonomy of municipal bodies to the maximum extent, compatible with the imperative needs of continuity, efficiency and integrity in municipal administration.
Prior to the merger of PEPSU in Punjab in November 1956, the functioning of the municipal committees in the area of present Faridkot Tahsil was governed by the Patiala Small Town Act. On the integration of the PEPSU with Punjab, the provisions of Punjab Municipal Act, 1911 were extended to the PEPSU AREA AND HENCE ALSO TO THE Bathinda District of which the Faridkot Tahsil was apart. Since 1955, the small committees constituted in the Punjab area had acquired the status of Class III municipal committees. On merger of PEPSU with Punjab, the small town area committees of these areas also acquired the status OF class III municipalities. All enactments relating to the municipal administration in the Punjab State became applicable to the municipalities falling in the area of Faridkot Tahsil.
By the Punjab Municipal (Amendment) Act, 1956, reservation has been provided for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes in the services of municipal committees.
Earlier, the term of officer of municipal commissioners in the State was three years. This was extended to five years in 1973. The latest Amendment in Punjab Municipal Act, 1911 was made during 1994.
(b) Organisation and Structure
Functions and Duties of
Municipal Councils
Statutorily, municipal bodies in Punjab have two types of functions, namely, obligatory functions and optional functions. Obligatory functions are those functions which every municipal committee has to perform and if for their performance the committee does not make sufficient provision in its budget, then the State Government compels it to do so; and if the committee fails to perform these functions satisfactorily, then the State government may even supersede the committee and place the municipal committee under the charge of its own officer. Obligatory functions are of four main types, viz. public safety and convenience, medical relief, public works and public health. These functions include such the municipality were fixed in 1954. The bye-laws were introduced in 1959-60. Activities as regulating or abetting offensive or dangerous trades, removing of obstructions and projections in public streets, lighting and cleansing of public streets, extinguishing of fires, provision and regulation of slaughter-houses, burial and cremation grounds, public latrines, picnic spots, drains and sewers, registration of births and deaths, public vaccination, inoculation and primary education, etc.
The list of optional functions is comprehensive and includes construction and maintenance of public streets, public parks, gardens, libraries, museums, rest-houses lunatic asylums; furthering educational programmes other than primary education, planting and maintaining of roadside trees; arranging for the destruction of stray dogs; maintaining dairy farms and breeding studs, holding of fairs and exhibitions etc.
As on 31 March 1993, there were 7 municipalities in the district at Faridkot, Kot Kapura, Jaito, Moga, Muktsar, Malaut, Giddarbaha and 2 Nagar Panchayats at Bagha Purana and Badhni Kalan. The sources of income of the municipalities include octroi, house tax, toll tax, water and sewerage rate, licence fee, building application fee, some taxes on entertainment, taxes on certain trades and activities, liqour tax and some minor taxes. The details regarding the income and expenditure of the municipalities during 1975-76, 1980-81, 1985-86 and 1988-89 to 1992-93 are given in Apendix-1 at page 451.
A brief account of each municipal council/nagar panchayat is given below:
Faridkot
Municipality
Faridkot Municipality was formed in early 1915 on experimental basis by the rulers of then Princely State. It is now a Class I municipality.
According to the 1991 Census, the area of the town within municipal committee limits was 15 sq. km. And its population was 58,625 persons. In 1992-93, the municipality had one official member.
The civic amenities provided by the municipality include water supply; street lights, arrangements for cleanliness of the town and the disposal of refuse. To augment of water supply. Hand pumps have been installed wherever necessary, surface drains exist and sullage water is disposed of through disposal works at three points. The Committee also maintains few gardens, a library and a reading room. During 1992-93, it also maintained 55 km of roads with in the municipal limits.
Kot Kapura
Municipality
The municipality was constituted in the month of Baisakh Sambat 2005. In 1956, was raised to the status of Class II municipality and further to Class I municipal committee in 1978. Previously, for its water supply the town depended only on wells and hand pumps. A water supply scheme was taken up in mid-sixties.
According to the 1991 Census, the area of the town within municipal limits was 14.50 sq. km. And its population was 62,430 persons. In 1992-93, the municipality had 20 non-official members.
The civic amenities provided by the municipality include street-lights, surface drains, dry brick paving, water supply, sewerage, sanitation, community latrines, etc. the committee maintains a library and the municipal parks in the town. It also maintains 37.20 km of roads within the municipal limits.
Jaito
Municipality
Jaito Municipality was constituted as a Small Town Committee on 4 May 1949. Further its status was raised to a Municipality in June 1964. Presently, it is a Class II municipality.
According to the 1991 Census the area of the town within municipal limits was 9.06 sq. km. And its populations was 28,850 persons. In 1992-93, the municipality had 17 non-official members.
The civic amenities provided by the municipality include water supply, sewerage, street-lights, development of slum areas and cleanliness of the town. It also maintains a library. During 192-93, it maintained 16.9 km of roads within the municipal limits.
Moga
Municipality
Constituted in 1904 as a Notified Area Committee, its status was raised to a municipality in 1919 under the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911. Its limits were extended in 1955. The bye-laws were introduced in 1919.
The drainage system was introduced about the year 1920. The sewerage system was introduced in 1960-61 and about one fourth of the town was covered by it. Electric supply was started in the town by government in 1953. Water supply system was introduced in the town in 1960-61. For this purpose five tube-wells had been installed.
According to the 1991 Census the area of the town within municipal limits was 16.10 sq. km. And its population was 1,10,958 persons. The municipality had 25 non-official members during 192-93.
The civic amenities provided by the municipality include cleanliness of the town and disposal of refuse, street-lights, construction of drains. Pavement of streets, water supply and sewerage. The municipality runs a library and reading rooms in different parts of the town and maintains two parks. It also maintains 34.66 km of roads.
Muktsar
Municipality
The Municipal
Committee, Muktsar, was constituted in 1876. It was a Class II municipality at
that time. The bye-laws were introduced in 1932. Presently, it is a Class I
municipality.
Piped water
supply was installed in the town in 1924, when water works maintained by the
municipality. Electricity for street-lighting was provided to the town in 1934.
The supply of electricity was taken over by the Punjab State Electricity Board
in 1955.
According to
the 1991 Census, the area of the town within municipal committee limits was 20
sq. km. And its population was 66,383 person. In 1992-93, the municipality had
20 non-official members.
The civic
amenities provided by the municipality include water supply, street-lights,
drains, brick pavement of streets, cleanliness of the town and disposal of
refuse, etc. The municipality runs a library in the town. It also maintains
25.5 km of roads.
Malaut Municipality
This
municipality was constituted on 1 September 1959. Before the constitution of the
municipal committee, there were two private managing committees, namely
`managing Committee, Mandi Jarji Ram` and the `Edward Ganj Public Welfare
Association`. The town was divided into two parts through the G.T. Road and
these two private committees managed those parts.
According to
the 1991 Census, the area of the town within municipal committee limits was
8.00 sq. km and its population was 56,868 persons. In 1992-93, the municipality
had 18 non-official members.
The drainage
system in the town was started in 1960-61. At that time municipality had no
water-works of its own, but a private body, named Edwardganj public Welfare
Association, Malaut, was running its own water supply system.
The civic
amenities provided by the municipality include drains, brick pavement of
streets, pucka roads, water supply, Sewerage, street-lights, hand pumps, public
urinals, etc. it maintains a library and reading rooms. It also maintains 16 km
of roads within the municipal limits.