(c) Other Sources of Revenue, State and Control

 

(i)  Other Sources of State Revenue

            Besides land revenue, the other sources of State revenue are 8 : Stamp Duty, Registration Fee, Excise Tax, Urban Immovable Property Tax, Sales Tax, Passengers and Goods Tax, Entertainments Tax, Entertainments Days, Central Sales Tax, Electricity Duty and Copying Fee.

            Stame Duty. – The Indian Stamp Act (No. II) of 1899, came into force with effect from July, 1,1899.  It was amended by the Punjab Act VIII of 1992 and the Indian Stamp (Punjab Second Amendment) Act (No. 34) of 1960.

            Stamp revenue is derived from two classes of stamps-Judicial or Court Fee and Non-judicial or Revenue Stamps.  The Act requires the Collector (Deputy Commissioner) to ensure that the documents are properly stamped according to the schedule.

            The total income realised in the district from the sale of judicial, non-judicial and miscellaneous stamps, during 1967-68 to 1971-72, is shown in the following table :-

 

Year

 

Judicial Stamps (Rs)

Non-judicial Stamps (Rs)

Miscellaneous Stamps (Rs)

Total (Rs)

1967-68

..

4,72,930

12,43,496

33,28,804

50,45,230

1968-69

..

5,27,147

23,20,223

39,40,940

67,88,310

1969-70

..

5,42,155

26,56,422

45,59,178

77,57,755

1970-71

..

6,17,615

31,76,795

50,82,155

88,76,565

1971-72

..

6,07,399

31,90,856

54,75,645

92,73,900

 

 

                       (Source : Treasury Officer, Gurdaspur)

 

            Registration Fee. - The Indian Registration Act, 1908 requires compulsory registration of all documents pertaining to immovable property and provides optional registration in case of other documents. Documents which fulfill the prescribed requirements and for which the required stamp duty and registration fee are paid are registered.  The chief items of receipts collected by the Registration Department are in

_______________________________________________________________

            8. The Professions Tax levied under the Punjab Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Taxation Act, 1956, was abolished with effect from April 1,1967.

 

respect of registration of documents, making or granting of copies, searching the registers and authentication of powers of attorney.  The State Government have, however, exempted completely or partially levy of registration fee in certain cases.

            The following statement shows the number of registered documents, value of property transferred and receipts in the district from 1967-68 to 1971-72 :-


Number and Description of Registered Documents and Value of Property Transferred in Gurdaspur District, 1967-68 to 1971-72

 

 

 

No. of Registrations of Property 

 

 

Aggregate Value of property Transferred (,000, Rs)

Year

No. of Registration Offices

Immovable Property

Movable Property

Grand Total

Immovable property

Movable Property

Total

Total Receipts (Rs 000)

 

 

Compulsory

Optional

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

1967-68

4

14,670

1

14,671

415

15,086

46,117

44

46161

662

1968-69

4

16,278

4

16,282

331

16,613

61,892

222

62,114

756

1969-70

4

16,713

1

16,714

481

17,195

83,585

118

83,703

932

1970-71

6

17,737

3

17,740

520

18,260

1,68,787

194

1,68,981

965

1971-72

6

14,235

..

14,235

450

14,685

79,790

5

79,795

925

                                                                                                        (Statistical Abstract of Punjab, 1968 to 1972)


            Excise Tax.-  The State and Central Excise Acts enforced in the Punjab are: The Indian Opium Act, 1878; The Punjab Excise Act, 1914; The Punjab Local Option Act, 1923; The Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930; The Punjab Molasses Control Act, 1948; The Indian Power Alcohol Act, 1948; The Medicine and Toilet Preparations (Excise Duties), Act, 195; and The Spirituous Preparation (Excise Duties) Act, 1955.

 

            Motor Spirit Tax.-  This tax is levied under the Punjab Motor Spirit (Taxation of Sales) Act, 1939.  In 1972, the rate of the tax on petrol and high speed diesel was 9 paise per litre, respectively.

 

            Urban Immovable Property Tax.-  The tax is levied under the Punjab Urban Immovable Property Tax Act, 1940.  Up to March 31, 1968, it was charged at the rate of 10 percent of the annual rental value of the property in urban area.  From thence onwards, it was gradually decreased and was abolished altogether with effect from March 31, 1972.

 

            Sales Tax. -  It is levied under the Punjab General Sales Tax Act, 1948, which repealed the Punjab General Sales Tax Act, 1941, on May 1, 1948.

            Passengers and Goods Tax. – It is levied under the Punjab Passengers and Goods Tax Act, 1952, on all fares and freights in respect of passengers carried and goods transported in motor vehicles in the Punjab.  The rate of the tax has been enhanced from time to time.  In 1972, the rate of the tax was 35 per cent of the fare/freight.  In the same year, the annual rate of tax truck was Rs 202.50 in the Punjab and Rs 303.75 outside the Punjab, and Rs 135.00 in the hilly areas in the Punjab as well as outside the Punjab.

 

            Entertainments Duty. – It is levied under the Punjab Entertainments Duty Act, 1955, which repealed the Punjab Entertainments Duty Act, 1936.  The rates of duty change from time to time.  It is, however, provided in the Act that entertainments duty shall not exceed in any case 60 per cent of the payment for admission ; and, in the case of complimentary tickets, the rate of duty shall be 60 per cent of the payment for admission to the particular class.

 

            Central Sales Tax. – The Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, provides for the levy of tax on sales effected in the course of inter-State trade and commerce.  The States have been authorised to administer this tax on behalf of the Government of India and the entire collections are appropriated by them.

 

            Electricity Duty. –The duty has been levied under the Punjab Electricity (Duty) Act, 1958, to meet the additional financial burdens under-taken by the State on account of introduction of free education and provincialisation of local body schools.  The duty is levied on the energy supplied by the Punjab State Electricity Board to a consumer or a license and it is collected by the Board along with the bills for the energy thus supplied.  On realization, the proceeds are deposited by the Board in Government Treasury, Sub-Treasury or the State Bank of India.

 

            Copying Fee. – The fee is levied under the Punjab Copying Fees Act, 1936, for copies of orders, etc. supplied to the public.  The charges vary for supplying copies on ordinary and urgent basis.

            The collections from the above-mentioned taxes in Gurdaspur District, during 1967-68 to 1971-72, are shown in the following statement :-


Collection form Other Sources of the State Revenue in Gurdaspur District, 1967-68 to 1971-72

 

Serial No.

Tax

 

1967-68        (Rs)

1968-69        (Rs)

1969-70        (Rs)

1970-71        (Rs)

1971-72        (Rs)

1

Stamp Duty

..

50,45,230

67,88,310

77,57,755

88,76,565

92,73,900

2

Excise Tax

..

1,09,51,272

1,34,89,002

1,45,50,640

1,49,07,237

1,63,14,221

3

Motor Spirit

..

7,61,277

10,09,346

13,04,938

15,84,767

18,23,279

4

Urban Immovable

..

3,87,546

582,601

453,182

 

 

5

Punjab General Sales Tax

..

63,62,090

80,22,236

1,05,81,656

1,19,40,843

1,20,45,803

6

Passengers and Goods Tax

..

26,15,097

28,08,473

35,72,208

43,81,782

57,62,626

7

Entertainments Tax

..

40,605

44,215

50,805

53,390

1,48,318

8

Entertainments Duty

..

7,40,387

868,985

10,63,983

12,96,121

14,30,316

9

Central Sales Tax

..

30,71,928

32,96,648

37,38,804

32,85,052

31,47,042

10

Electricity Duty

..

12,17,376

13,50,050

14,76,634

15,32,766

18,25,008

11

Copying Fee

..

39,409

39,206

39,704

40,896

35,819

                                   (Source: Excise and Taxation Officer, Gurdaspur and Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur


(ii)  Central Sources of Revenue

 

            Central Excise Duties.-   The main sources of the Central Excise Duty in the district are: tobacco, woolen, fabrics, woolen yarn, rayon and synthetic yarn, sugar, copper and copper alloys, wool tops, rubber belting, art silk fabrics, iron and steel, loose tea, packages tea, cotton fabrics processed, grey board, electric motors, matches, patent proprietary medicines, wireless receiving sets, cotton fabrics on power-looms, sodium silicate, surface active agent, battery plates, rubber piping, footwear, paints and varnish, internal combustion engines, prepared and preserved food, etc.

 

            The duties are collected under the Central Excise and Salt Act, 1944.

 

            Income Tax.-  It is levied under the Income Tax Act, 1961, which replaced the Indian Income Tax Act, 1922.  The rates of income tax may vary from year to year in accordance with the Finance Act, passed by the Parliament every year.

 

            Wealth Tax.- It is levied under the Wealth Tax Act, 1957.

 

            Gift Tax.-  The tax is levied under the Gift Tax Act, 1958, on all gifts made for     after the date of the enforcement of the Act (i.e. April 1, 1958), if the total value of the gift (movable or immovable) exceeds the limit specified by the Finance Act passed by the Parliament in a particular year.

 

            Estate Duty.-  The Estate Duty Act, 1953, was enforced on October 15, 1953.  The Duty is livable on the estates of the persons dying after this date.  For levy of estate duty, the Gurdaspur District falls under the jurisdiction of the Assistant Controller of Estate Duty, Jullundur.

 

            The collections from the Central sources of revenue in the Gurdaspur District, from 1967-68 to 1971-72, are given below:

 

 

Year

 

Central Excise Duties

Income Tax

Wealth Tax

Gift Tax

Estate Duty

 

 

(Rs)

(Rs)

(Rs)

(Rs)

(Rs)

1967-68

..

67,98,882

88,62,546

65,863

47,147

5,214

1968-69

..

77,42,748

9,20,679

80,634

49,203

6,273

1969-70

..

94,72,469

..

..

..

..

1970-71

..

1,15,52,737

1,05,22,062

1,24,637

1,23,651

57,249

1971-72

..

80,83,723

1,09,80,694

1,42,978

1,69,271

61,598

                       (Source: Income Tax Officer, Gurdaspur, and Superintendent, Central Excise, Gurdaspur)      

 

CHAPTER  XII

(a)

Incidence of Crime in the District

(b)

History and Organization of Police

©

Jails and Lock Ups

(d)

Organization of Civil and Criminal Courts

(e)

Bar Associations

 

LAW AND ORDER AND JUSTICE

(a)  Incident of Crime in the District

 

The district has a conspicuous name for illicit distillation.  The people, especially the Sansis, indulge in large scale distillation of liquor.  Special campaigns are launched by the district police at short intervals to curb the activities of distillers, bootleggers and the moonshines.

           

                       The inhabitants of the district are also very fond of keeping arms and sometimes even undesirable elements succeed in getting licences.  The district police effects recoveries of illicit weapons and frequent screening of licences also helps in keeping the law and order situation under control.

            An idea regarding the trend of various crimes, etc. in the district, during 1963 to 1972, may be had from the following table: -


      Number of reported cases relating to various crimes, etc. in the Gurdaspur District, 1963-72

 

Year

 

All Crimes (Class I to VI)

Murder

Dacoity

Robbery

Burglary

Rioting

Theft

Cattle Lifting

Traffic in Women

Cheating

Offences under Local and Special Laws

Motor Vehicle Accident

1963

..

3187

21

..

1

138

1

209

38

18

10

1,789

..

1964

..

2,812

20

..

..

127

11

193

24

16

12

1,699

..

1965

..

3,143

25

..

..

98

4

135

22

23

10

2,031

19

1966

..

2,621

27

..

..

87

2

175

39

16

15

1,589

39

1967

..

2,371

30

..

..

139

2

211

28

19

13

1,230

27

1968

..

2,991

44

..

..

113

4

180

40

13

8

1,794

26

1969

..

3,129

37

..

..

114

..

158

38

22

12

1,780

24

1970

..

3,484

41

..

2

122

4

208

33

14

5

1,949

31

1971

..

3,085

31

..

1

114

1

159

21

24

10

1,851

23

1972

..

3,313

35

..

1

122

4

189

14

27

11

2,062

22

                                                                                                                              

(Source: Superintendent of Police, Gurdaspur)


            The important categories of crime are described below:

           

            Murder.- Murder has always been termed a fortuitous crime, incapable of being fore-stalled.  It is committed sometimes under gave and sudden provocation, while mental frustration also leads to it.  Motives for murders may be listed as sex-relations, domestic quarrels, blood feuds, land disputes, canal water disputes, personal enmity, sudden quarrel, etc.

 

             Dacoity.- Through sustained efforts, dacoity, which is regarded as a true barometer of the criminal situation in the district, has been completely eliminated since 1959.  Thus, this outrageous menace has become conspicuous by its absence.

 

            Robbery.-  Robbery is a special and aggravated form of either theft or extortion.  The chief distinguishing element in robbery is the presence of imminent fear of violence.

 

            Burgalry. – Burglary means an act of breaking into a house to commit theft or other felony.  This crime is a common feature both in the rural and urban areas, and vigorous efforts have been made to bring the situation under control.  There was much fluctuation in the incidence of the crime in the district during the decade 1963-72, minimum being 87 in 1996 and maximum 139 in 1967.

 

            Rioting.- Rioting is an unlawful assembly of five or more persons in a particular state of activity, which activity is accompanied by the use of force or violence.  It is only the use of force that distinguishes rioting from an unlawful assembly.

 

            Theft. – Theft is said to have been committed if a person intends to take dishonestly any movable property out of the possession of any other person without his consent.  The incidence of the crime is relatively less in rural areas because the population in each abadi is small and the inhabitants know each other personally.

 

            Cattle Lifting. – The incidence of cattle theft is more or less attributable to the geographical situation of the district, which adjoins the boundaries of Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh States.  This situation obviously facilitates the clandestine exodus of cattle to these areas by the thieves and smugglers.  The incidence of the crime is more frequent in rural areas than in urban areas.

 

            Traffic in women. – Thought technically falling under the definition of kidnapping or abduction, majority of the cases under the head ‘traffic in women’ are, in fact, that of elopements.  This crime generally flows from two factors, viz. the value standards of the people and lack of proper hold of the parents and guardians over their wards who too fall a prey to sexy literature and movies.

 

            Cheating. – A wilful misrepresentation of a definite fact with intent to defraud would be cheating.

 

            Offences under Local and Special Laws. – The crime under this head comprises cases of public nuisance and those under the Indian Arms Act, 1878, the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, Opium Act, 1878, the Public Gambling Act, 1867, the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the Indian Railways Act, 1890, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

 

            Incidence of Motor Vehicle Accidents. – The incidence of road accidents in the district is fluctuating.

 

            Road Traffic. – Besides the Indian Motor Vehicle Act, 1939, selections 279, 337, 338 and 304-A of the Indian Penal Code, the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, and the Municipal Bye-laws, the Stage Carriage Act, XVI of 1861, the Police Act, 1888, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, XI of 1890, the Punjab Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1925, the Hackney Carriage Act, 1879, regulate the road traffic.

            The prosecutions launched in the district under the various Acts, during 1963 to 1972, are given in the following Statement :-


Prosecutions Launched under various Acts in Gurdaspur, 1963 to 1972

 

Name of the Act

 

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

Indian Penal Code

..

882

937

915

787

745

886

996

1,119

1,205

1,282

Municipal Act and Municipal Bye-laws

..

173

14

115

38

45

52

63

42

35

36

Stage Carriage Act

..

349

149

122

69

110

117

129

85

48

40

Police Act

..

515

295

317

197

211

315

420

481

245

232

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act

..

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Punjab Motor Vehicles Taxation

..

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hackney Carriage Act

..

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

                      

(Source: - Superintendent of Police, Gurdaspur)


(b) History and Organization of Police

 

            History of Police

           

            All through the past, the rulers of the country kept separate organizations to maintain law and order and also to obtain information of the internal situation and foreign conditions.  With the advent of the British rule, police administration was further organized with the appointment of a separate officer at the district level, viz. the Superintendent of Police.  The police system was re-organized from time to time in accordance with the recommendations of the Police Commission of 1861 (and the resultant Police Act V of 1861), the Second Police Commission of 1902, the Punjab Provincial Police Committee of 1925 (which submitted its report in 1926), the Punjab Police Commission of 1961, etc.

 

            In the context of the geographical of the Gurdaspur District on the India-Pakistan border, its strategic importance from the police point of view cannot be over-emphasised.  Utmost and unrelented police vigilance is required to be maintained for action against spies, agents, saboteurs and smugglers from across the international border.

 

Organization of Police

 

            In the early years of the twentieth century, the regular police force in the district consisted of 556 persons of all ranks, including 5 Cantonment and 147 municipal police, in the charge of a Superintendent of Police who usually had 4 Inspectors under him. The village watchmen numbered 1,957.

 

            For the purpose of police administration, the Gurdaspur district falls under the Jullundur Range, which is under the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jullundur.  At the district level, the Superintendent of Police,1  Gurdaspur, is responsible for the administration of Police.  He is assisted by 3 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 4 Inspectors, 39 Sub-Inspectors, 60 Assistant Sub-Inspectors, 119 Head Constables and 828 Constables. 

           

            The strength of the police in the district, as on March 31, 1972, was as follows :-

 

_______________________________________________________________

 

               1.  From 1974, a Senior Superintendent of Police has been posted as head of the police organization in the district.

 

 

 


Police Strength in Gurdaspur, as on March 31, 1972

 

-

 

Superintendents of Police

Deputy Superintendents of Police

Inspectors

Sub-Inspector

Assistant Sub-Inspector

Head Constables

Constables

Civil Police

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Permanent

..

1

2

2

19

54

87

543

Temporary

..

-

1

1

9

5

25

221

Armed Reserves (1st, 2nd, 3rd Armed Reserves)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Permanent

..

..

..

..

1

1

7

64

Temporary

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

Mounted Police

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Permanent

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

Temporary

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

Prosecution Staff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Permanent

..

..

..

1

10

..

..

..

Temporary

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

     Total

 

1

3

4

39

60

119

828

 

(Source:  Superintendents of Police, Gurdaspur)

 

Contents    Next