Excise Police Staff:

           It comprises one Sub-Inspector, Police, 5 Head Constables and 28 Constables, who are on deputation from the Police Department.  These officials are posted with the Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Kapurthala.

Village Police:

           The Chowkidar is at the lowest rung of the Police organization.  He helps the village Sarpanch in the maintenance of law and order.  The village watchman helps in the detection of crimes.  It is his duty to report the occurrence of any crime in the village to the concerned authorities.

Punjab Home Guards:

           The Punjab Home Guards Act of 1948 empowered the State Government to raise a volunteer force to supplement the police force in the maintenance of law and order and other essential services during emergencies.  Such a force was raised in the district at company level in 1960 and then at the district level in January 1973.

           There is a District Commander, Punjab Home Guards, Kapurthala, who is assisted by one Assistant District Commander, one Store Superintendent, one Civil Defence Instructor, one Officer incharge Training Centre, two Officers incharge urban companies, 5 Clerks and 4 Class IV staff.

           The permanent/part-time staff strength in detail is given below:-

 

District headquarters Kapurthala

Sub-Unit 225/226 Coy (U) Kapurthala

Sub-Unit 227/228 Coy (U) Phagwara

Sub-Unit of Training Centre Punjab Home Guards, Kapurthala

Total

Permanent Staff

8

4

4

6

22

 

Urban Wing

Rural Wing

 

 

Part-time Staff

440

440

 

 

           The volunteers of the Home Guards attend weekly parades and are imparted training in first-aid, fire fighting, civil defence measures and drill and weapon training.  They assist the local police in the maintenance of law and order in times of need and guard strategic points like railway lines, power stations and other means of communications.

(c)   Jails  and  Lock-ups

Essentially of British origin, the institution of jails forms a part of the judicial system introduced by them.  The administration of jails during the British regime was somewhat different from what obtains today.  More and more stress is laid one corrective penology today.

           After the country gained independence in 1947, changes have been effected in the administration of the jails, which are now primarily functioning as reformatories.  The State Government has taken effective steps to improve further the conditions of prisoners in the jails.  Utmost care is taken in respect of diet, health, education and emotional set-up of the prisoners.  The most significant feature of the present jail administration is that effective steps are taken to enable the prisoners to earn their livelihood as laborers on release and to become useful and respectable members of the society.

           There is a district jail at the district headquarters at Kapurthala.  Besides, there is a lock-up attached to each police station, which is controlled by the Police Department.

District Jail Kapurthala:

           Established in 1914 as District Jail of the erstwhile Kapurthala State, it was declared as a Sub-Jail in 1947 when it was taken over by the Punjab Government.  It was converted into District Jail on 8 June 1983.  It is under the charge of the Superintendent of Jail, who is assisted by one Deputy Superintendent, 2 Assistant Superintendents, one Welfare Officer, one Office Assistant Superintendent, one Accountant, One Weaving Master, 4 Clerks, one Medical Officer, one Pharmacist, 3 Head Warders, 28 Warders, one Matron and 5 Sweepers.  The prisoners under the supervision of jail staff run a poultry farm. Besides, there is a small agriculture farm attached to the Jail where vegetables are grown for the consumption of the prisoners.

           There is a library in the jail.  A  T.V. set is also installed.  Besides, there is a gurudwara inside the jail for religious offerings of the prisoners.

The average daily population and maximum population on any one day during the year in the Sub-Jail, Kapurthala, during 1977 to 1981, are given in the following table:-

                                                 Year

 

 

1977

 

1978

 

1979

 

1980

 

1981

 

Average daily population

54.65

81.13

110.15

76.55

84.45

Maximum population on any day during the year

91

358

352

126

129

 

           (Source:          Superintendent, Sub-Jail, Kapurthala)

           The  number of prisoners released on different grounds, during 1977-81, is given below:

 

 
No. of prisoners released on different grounds

Year

On expiry

On bail

Convicts transferred to other jails

Parole/

Furlough

On Govt. Orders

1977

55

45

51

-

4

1978

40

75

112

-

1

1979

68

73

76

3

4

1980

73

41

205

1

3

1981

83

40

158

2

-

 

Under trials

Year

Discharged

On Bails

Convicted

Transferred to other Jails

Handover to Police

1977

140

415

38

-

30

1978

242

541

55

17

53

1979

501

707

56

30

48

1980

216

414

65

12

34

1981

257

495

55

13

85

 

Civil Prisoners

Year

Released

1977

76

1978

141

1979

96

1980

63

1981

123

 

                      (Source:          Superintendent, Sub-Jail, Kapurthala)

           The main purpose of visits of official and non-official visitors is to ensure that the rules and regulations governing jail administration are properly carried out.  The members visit the jail, meet the prisoners, listen to their complaints and make a record of their comments, which is taken note of by the authorities for carrying out improvements in the jail administration.

District Probation Officer, Kapurthala:

           The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, came into force in the Kapurthala District in 1969 when a District Probation Officer was posted there.  He is under the control of the Chief Probation Officer, Chandigarh, who supervises and directs the work in the entire State under the overall administrative control and guidance of the Inspector-General of Prisons, Punjab, Chandigarh.

           The District Probation Officer, Kapurthala, is to enquire into the circumstances, home surroundings, character, and general antecedents of a person accused of an offence in accordance with the direction of a judicial court, with a view to assisting the court in determining the most suitable method of dealing with the accused, and is also to submit the social investigation reports of the offenders.  The District Probation Officer has to perform multifarious duties and has to act as a friend, philosopher and guide in case of all offenders under his supervision.  He has to render all necessary assistance to the probationer and explain to him the terms and conditions of supervision order and also to advise him how he should conduct himself in society.  The probationer has to report to the Probation Officer periodically, as per rules and in turn, the Probation Officer has to visit the probationer in his home surroundings on occupational environment with a view to watching the progress made by him

           The following table shows the number of prisoners released on probation on various grounds, during the year 1976-77 to 1980-81: -

 

 

Year

Prisoners released on probation

Under supervision

Without supervision

Under Section 3 of Probation Act after admonition

Social investigation reports

1976-77

65

499

-

5

1977-78

54

478

3

11

1978-79

110

688

-

21

1979-80

110

816

-

36

1980-81

100

899

-

19

 

                      (Source:          District Probation Officer, Kapurthala)

(d)       Organization of Civil and Criminal Courts

           Like other districts of the State, the judicial organization in the Kapurthala District comprises a District and Sessions Judge and an Additional District and Sessions Judge at the district headquarters.  On the criminal side, a Chief Judicial Magistrate, and on the civil and, a Senior Subordinate Judge, function under the superintendence of the District and Sessions Judge.  At the district headquarters, the civil and criminal cases are dealt with by five Judicial Officers to whom work is allotted by the Chief Judicial Magistrate and the Senior Subordinate Judge.  Similarly, at the tehsil level, there are judicial officers who dispose of civil and criminal cases under the control and supervision of the District and Sessions Judge.  Civil cases are instituted directly in the courts at the tehsil headquarters, whereas regarding criminal cases, separate police stations are allotted to different judicial officers who deal with the cases of those police stations which fall under their jurisdiction.

Civil Justice:

           On the civil side, the District and Sessions Judge, Kapurthala is assisted by an Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kapurthala, Senior Subordinate Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate, Kapurthala, and four Sub-Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrates (two posted at Kapurthala, one at Phagwara and one at Sultanpur Lodhi ).  Of the four Subordinate Judges three are Ist Class and one 2nd Class.

           The civil courts try all types of cases of civil nature up to the powers with which each Sub-Judge or Senior Subordinate Judge has been invested.

Additional District Judge, Kapurthala:

           He hears appeals against the judgments and decrees of Sub-Judges of all classes upto Rs. 10,000 and hears cases under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

           The following tale shows the number of cases tried by the Civil Courts in the Kapurthala District from 1977 to 1981:-

 

Year

Pending from the previous year

Instituted during the year

Total for disposal

Disposed of during the year

Balance at the close of the year

1977

135

420

555

166

389

1978

389

362

751

370

381

1979

381

474

855

410

445

1980

445

436

881

292

589

1981

589

802

1,391

742

649

 

(Source:          Deputy Registrar (J), Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh)

Senior Subordinate Judge, Kapurthala:

           The Senior Subordinate Judge exercises civil appellate powers and enjoys jurisdiction under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.  He hears cases of rents, succession certificates insolvency cases, guardianship cases and suits under the Torts and Indian Contact Act, 1872.

Sub-Judge Ist Class:

           All the Sub-Judges are Subordinate Judges who have been invested with the powers of unlimited jurisdiction of civil nature in their respective areas, including rent cases, succession certificates and others.  They are Rent Controllers and also try cases under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955.

           The following statement shows the number of cases tried by the Civil Courts in the Kapurthala District from 1976 to 1981:-

Year

Pending from the previous year

Instituted during the year

Total for disposal

Disposed of during the year

Balance at the close of the year

1976

1,737

2,444

4,181

2,504

1,677

1977

1,677

2,523

4,200

2,639

1,561

1978

1,561

2,664

4,225

2,699

1,526

1979

1,526

2,402

3,928

2,530

1,398

1980

1,398

2,694

4,092

2,405

1,687

1981

1,687

2,675

4,326

2,453

1,909

 

(Source:          Deputy Registrar, (J) Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh)

Criminal Justice:

           The District and Sessions Judge, Kapurthala, is also incharge of administration of justice on the criminal side.  He is assisted by an Additional District and Sessions Judge and the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kapurthala, and four Sub-Judges-cum-Judicial Magistrates (two posted at Kapurthala one each at Phagwara and Sultanpur Lodhi).  With the separation of the judiciary from the executive in the State on 2 October 1964 the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kapurthala, functions under the control and supervision of the District and Sessions Judge, Kapurthala.

           The Chief Judicial Magistrate and Sub-Judges-cum-Judicial Magistrates deal with all types of criminal cases except security cases.  The Chief Judicial Magistrate is vested with the powers of a Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, viz. power to try juvenile offenders, to require delivery of letters, telegrams, etc ; to issue search warrants for documents in custody of postal or telegraph authorities; to release persons imprisoned for failing to give security under section 106; to order police investigations into cognizable case; to entertain cases without complaints; to transfer cases to subordinate magistrate; and to report cases to High Court, etc.

           In the district, all Sub-Judges-cum-Judicial Magistrates try cases under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and other Special Acts relating to police stations under their jurisdiction.  They have the powers to issue warrants to landholders; to issue search warrant for persons wrongfully confined; to record statements and confessions during police investigations to recover penalty on forfeited bonds; and to order released convicts to notify residence, etc.  All criminals apprehended by the police are produced before the Sub-Judges-cum-Judicial Magistrates in whose jurisdiction the criminals may have been apprehended or the crime may have been committed.  After investigation, the police put up the challans in the courts of Sub-Judges-cum-Judicial Magistrates who also act as Ilaka Magistrate and watch the investigation of criminal cases.

 

           Cases of security for keeping peace and security for good behavior, under the Criminal Procedure Court, are tried by the Sub Divisional Magistrates of Kapurthala, Phagwara and Sultanpur Lodhi who are directly responsible to the Deputy Commissioner.  They also perform executive duties in addition to hearing security cases.

The following statement shows the number of cases tried by the Criminal (Sessions) Courts in the district during 1977 to 1981: -

Year

Cases brought forward from previous year

Cases reported during the year

Cases admitted

Cases tried (decided)

Cases convicted (Persons convicted)

Cases Un-traced

Cases Balance

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1977

74

184

258

119

104

-

139

1978

139

261

400

242

210

-

158

1979

158

279

437

253

268

-

184

1980

184

364

548

298

228

-

250

1981

250

187

437

385

476

-

52

 

Number of Cases tried by the Criminal (Judicial Magistrates) Courts

 

1

 

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

6

 

7

 

8

1977

2,593

4,487

7,080

4,451

3,533

-

2,629

1978

2,629

6,115

8,744

5,892

5,191

-

2,852

1979

2,852

5,214

8,066

5,574

4,161

-

2,492

1980

2,492

5,401

7,893

5,515

4,383

-

2,378

1981

2,378

6,408

8,786

6,085

4,833

-

2,701

 

(Source:          Deputy Registrar (J), Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh)

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 this, 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, a 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.

           On the civil and revenue side, panchayats are competent to try suits for recovery of movable property; suits for money or goods due on contracts or price thereof; suits for compensation for wrongfully taking or injuring movable property; and suits mentioned in clauses (j), (k), (1) and (n) of sub-section (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.

           The following statement shows the judicial work done by the panchayats in the district, during 1976-77 to 1981-82:-

 

Judicial work done by the Panchayats in the Kapurthala District,

1976-77 to 1981-82

 

 

Revenue Cases

 

1976-77

 

1977-78

 

1978-79

 

1979-80

 

1980-81

 

1981-82

 

1

Cases pending at the beginning of the year

 

 

31

 

23

 

13

 

6

 

8

 

6

2

Cases instituted

51

15

29

13

6

3

3

Cases received by transfer

1

-

-

2

-

-

4

Cases transferred from Panchayats and cases returned for presentation to courts and  Panchayats

1

3

-

-

-

-

5

Cases decided

59

22

36

13

8

9

(a)

Cases dismissed

12

12

34

-

3

-

(b)

Cases compounded

33

6

2

12

5

9

(c)

Cases decreed

14

4

-

1

-

-

6

Cases pending at the end of the year 23

23

13

6

8

6

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Criminal Cases

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Cases pending at the beginning of the year

29

7

9

7

9

-

2

Cases instituted

35

36

96

30

9

3

3

Cases received by transfer

25

17

-

-

-

-

4

Cases transferred from Panchayats and cases returned for presentation to courts and Panchayats

-

-

-

-

-

-

5

Cases decided

82

51

98

28

18

3

(a)

Cases dismissed

34

28

25

10

6

-

(b)

Cases compounded

45

19

65

15

12

3

(c)

Cases convicted

3

4

8

3

-

-

6

Cases pending at the end of the year

7

9

7

9

-

-

 

(Source:          Director, Rural Development and Panchayats, Punjab, Chandigarh)

(e)       Bar  Associations

           Bar Associations exist at three places in the district.  These are expected to ensure high standards of professional ethics among their members and promote the interests of advocates.  Besides, these help the courts to administer justice and to promote a sense of respect for law and order in public mind.

           These Associations are at Kapurthala, Phagwara and Sultanpur Lodhi.  The exact date of formation of the Bar Association, Kapurthala is not known, but it was in existence even in 1923.  It had 73 members on 31 March 1982.  The Bar Association, Phagwara was found in about 1920 and it had 22 members and the one at Sultanpur Lodhi  was formed in 1914 and had 18 members on that date.

 
CHAPTER   XIII
OTHER  DEPARTMENTS

 

v     Public Works Department

v     Public Relations Department

v     Co-operative Department

v     Food and Supplies Department

v     Finance Department

v     Planning Department

v     Language Department.

 

           There are certain departments whose functions are such that they do not find mention elsewhere in this gazetteer.  They have a definite impact on the district and, as such, cannot be ignored.  Such departments are discussed hereunder:

(a)       Public  Works  Department

           The function of this department may be mainly divided into construction of buildings and roads, bridges, drainage, public health, etc.   While each circle is in the charge of a  Superintending Engineer, the divisions/subdivisions are under Executive Engineers and Sub divisional Engineers, respectively.  A Superintending Engineer does not necessarily have only one district under his jurisdiction.  Similarly, an Executive Engineer may have more than one district in his charge.  The divisions and subdivisions which have jurisdiction over the Kapurthala District are briefly mentioned below :

(i)       Kapurthala Construction Division, P.W.D., B & R Branch, Kapurthala :-

           Opened in 1971, this division is headed by an Executive Engineer, who functions under the control of the Superintending Engineer, Jalandhar Circle, P.W.D., B & R  Branch, Jalandhar.  The Executive Engineer is assisted by 4 Sub Divisional Engineers, 16 Junior Engineers, 1 Head Draftsman, 2 Draftsmen, 1 Tracer, 1 Superintendent, 1 Divisional Accountant, besides other ministerial/technical Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

The division is entrusted with the construction of Government buildings and roads in the district.

(ii)       Drainage Subdivision No. III, Kapurthala :-

           This was established in 1956.  The Sub Divisional Officer, incharge of this subdivision is under the control of the Executive Engineer, Jalandhar Drainage Division, Jalandhar.  The Sub Divisional Officer is assisted by 4 Junior Engineers, 1 Subdivisional Clerk, besides other Class IV allied and miscellaneous staff.

           The main function of this subdivision is maintenance of flood protection bunds and drains to save village abadis and culturable lands from floods of River Beas and West or Kali Bein.

(iii)      P.W.D., Public Health Subdivision, Kapurthala :-

           Established at the district headquarters in 1969, this subdivision is headed by a Sub Divisional Engineer, who is under the control of the Executive Engineer P.W.D., 1st Public Health Division, Jalandhar.  The Sub Divisional Engineer is assisted by 4 Junior Engineers and other allied Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

           The main functions of this subdivision are to provide drinking water supply and sewerage disposal arrangements.

(iv)      P.W.D., Public Health Subdivision, Phagwara :-  

           Opened in 1969, this subdivision is headed by a Sub Divisional Engineer who functions under the control of the Executive Engineer, P.W.D., 2nd Public Health Division, Jalandhar.  The Sub Divisional Engineer is assisted by 4 Junior Engineers and other allied Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

           The main functions of this subdivision are to provide public health amenities, i.e. sewerage and sanitary installations in government buildings, Harijan bastis, grain markets, Jayanti’ villages, etc.

(v)       Panchayati Raj, Public Works (Construction/Maintenance) Subdivision, Kapurthala :-

           This subdivision came into existence in 1966.  The Sub-Divisional Officer incharge of this subdivision is under the control of the Executive Engineer, Panchayati Raj, Public Works (Cosnttruction & Maintenance) Division, Jalandhar.  He is assisted by 6 Sectional Officers, 1 Draftsman, 1 Tracer, besides other Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

           The main functions of this subdivision are, execution of development works  in model villages; construction of approach roads in the rural areas; construction of drains and pavements of streets in jayanti villages; execution of sullage water scheme; construction of veterinary dispensary buildings; installation of gobar gas plants; execution of different development works under rural planning schemes; and execution of development works of zila parishad and panchayat samitis.

(b)       Public  Relations  Department

           At the district level, the department is represented by the District Public Relations Officer, Kapurthala whose office was established in 1956.  He is assisted by 3 Assistant Public Relations Officers, 3 Tehsil Publicity Organizers, 1 Accountant, 1 Drama Inspector, 1 Drama Party Attendant, 3 Information Centre Attendants, 2 Radio Mechanics, 4 Cinema Operators, 1 Stage Master, 1 Tabla Master, 1 Harmonium Master, 5 Actors, besides other ministerial/technical Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

           The functions of the District Public Relations Officer are to publicise governmental activities through media of staging of dramas, giving of cinema shows, holding conferences and kavi darbars (poetic symposia) putting up exhibitions, display and distribution of literature, announcement of various orders of the government for general public in urban as well as in rural areas, etc.  Besides, he affects publicity through press and maintains close contacts between government and the people and keeps government informed of public reactions to its plans and policies and conveys public grievances to the district and State authorities.  He also looks after promotion of tourism and is the Secretary of the District Library Committee, which gives grants for the expansion of municipal libraries and setting up reading rooms in  rural areas.  The department provides radio-sets to panchayats and schools in the district.

(c)   Co-operative  Department

The work of the Co-operative Department in the district is looked after by an Assistant Registrar.  There was a small set-up for promotion of co-operatives even during the days of the princely order.

           The Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Kapurthala, is assisted by 31 Inspectors, 34 Sub-Inspectors, 1 Superintendent, 1 Accountant, 1 Statistical Assistant, besides other ministerial and technical Class III miscellaneous Class IV staff.

           The main functions of the Assistant Registrar, are to ensure proper growth and development of co-operative movement, registration of new societies and exercise supervision over them.  Besides, he advances loans to the societies for stepping up agricultural production, in cash or as fertilizer, seed and implements.

(d)       Food and Supplied Department

           This department was originally established in the princely state of Kapurthala during 1942 under a Director, Food and Supplies.  The position was changed after the formation of PEPSU in 1948.  That position again underwent change in 1956 after the merger of PEPSU with Punjab, and the district was placed under the control of the District Food and Supplies Controller, Jalandhar.  The present office of the District Food and Supplies Controller was opened at Kapurthala in 1967 having its jurisdiction within the district.

           The District Food and Supplies Controller is assisted by 3 District Food and Supplies Officers, 5 Assistant Food and Supplies Officers, 26 Inspectors, 37 Sub-Inspectors, 1 Assistant Accounts Officer, 1 Senior Auditor, 17 Junior Auditors, 1 Statistical Assistant, 1 Superintendent, 3 Accountants, 3 Head Analysts, 7 Junior Analysts, besides other allied Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

           The main functions of the department are : procurement of food grains; distribution of sugar, rice, wheat-flour and vanaspati through fair price shops in the urban as well as rural areas; issue/renewal of brick-kilns and fire-wood licences; allotment of coal/coke and cement; and keeping a check on food grains, kerosene, ghee, rice, sugar, yarn dealers.  The department also maintains its own godowns for storage of food grains.

(e)       Finance  Department

           The Finance Department is represented at the district level by the Treasury Officer, Kapurthala.  This office was established from the very day the erstwhile princely State of Kapurthala was formed.  Previously, the district treasury was under the charge of an Extra Assistant Commissioner (Revenue Department) who use to discharge these functions in addition to his normal duties.  Presently, the district treasury is under the administrative control of the Finance Department and a whole time Treasury Officer, belonging to the Punjab Finance and Accounts Service looks after the treasury.

           The Treasury Officer is assisted by 3 Assistant Treasury Officers (one each incharge of the sub-treasuries of Phagwara, Sultanpur Lodhi and Bholath), 1 Superintendent Treasury, 1 District Treasurer, 5 Assistant Treasurers, 11 Assistants besides other ministerial and Class IV staff.

           The main functions of the Treasury Officer and the Assistant Treasury Officers are to issue all kinds of stamps, to maintain the initial accounts of Government receipts and payments, passing bills and pension vouchers, etc.  They are also responsible to the Accountant General, Punjab, Chandigarh, for regular submissions of monthly accounts, allied returns, etc.

(f)       Planning  Department

           The Economic and Statistical Organization under the administrative control of the Planning Department, Punjab, is represented in the district by the District Statistical Officer, Kapurthala.  He is assisted by 3 Technical Assistants, 2 Statistical Assistants, 5 Field Assistants, 1 Assistant, 1 Computer, besides other allied Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.  This office was established in 1960-61.

           The main functions of the District Statistical Officer are: to collect, analyze and compile statistical data of the various offices at the district level; to conduct ad hoc socio-economic surveys; to collect price data for supplying to the different Central and State agencies; and to collect weekly retain prices and to formulate district plans, etc.

(g)       Language  Department

           In 1957, the State Government appointed language teachers to teach Punjabi (and Hindi) to its employees.  Introduction Cells were created at all district headquarters in September 1962 to ensure an easy and smooth switch-over to Punjabi (and Hindi where applicable) by 2 October 1962. There is a  District Language Officer whose office was established in 1962.  He is assisted by an Inspector, a Clerk and a Peon.

           The main functions of the District Language Officer are to implement Punjabi in the district offices; to impart training in Punjabi shorthand and typewriting; to organize literary meetings.  Kavi darbars (poetic symposia), dramas, debates and poetic compositions; to undertake linguistic surveys and bring out glossaries; to celebrate birth and death anniversaries of the renowned literary figures of the district; to recommend financial assistance to writes and literary institutions and to assist government departments in translation work.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER   XIV

LOCAL  SELF-GOVERNMENT

 

v     Organization and Structure

v     Town and Country Planning and Housing

v     Panchayati Raj

 

(a)       Organization  and  Structure

Functions and Duties of Municipal Committees:

           Statutorily, municipal bodies in Punjab have two types of functions, obligatory and optional.  If the municipal committee fails to perform the obligatory and optional.  If the municipal committee fails to perform the obligatory functions satisfactorily, then the State Government may supersede the committee and place the municipality under the charge of its own officer.  Obligatory functions are of four main types, viz. public safety and convenience, medical relief, public work and public health including regulating or abetting offensive or dangerous trades, removing obstructions and projections in public streets, lighting and cleansing of public streets, fire-fighting, provision and regulation of slaughter-houses, burial grounds, public toilets, picnic spots, drains and sewers, registration of births and deaths, vaccination, inculcation, primary education etc.

           The list of optional functions is wide and includes construction and maintenance of public streets, establishing and maintaining public parks, gardens, libraries, museums, dharmshalas, 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 exhibitions, etc.

           There are 3 municipalities in the district at Kapurthala, Phagwara and Sultanpur Lodhi.  Of these, Phagwara is class I and Kapurthala and Sultanpur Lodhi are class II.  The details regarding the income and expenditure of the municipalities are given in the appendix at the end of this chapter.  The sources of income of the municipalities include octroi, house tax, toll tax, cinema show tax, building application fee, tehbazari, dangerous and offensive trades licence fee, bus stand tax (adda fee), tax on tongas, rickshaws, wheelbarrows, etc.

           A brief account of each municipality is given hereunder:

Kapurthala  Municipality

           This was constituted in 1896 under the princely state.  In 1981-82, it had 16 members and is a class II municipality.

           According to the 1981 census, the area of the town within municipal limits was 20.72 sq. km. and its population 50,300.

           The services provided by the municipal committee includes water-supply, street-lighting, surface drains and sanitary and refuse disposal arrangements.  The committee took over the charge of water supply from the Public Health Department in 1963.  Electric energy was first supplied by the municipal committee is 1942.  It maintains a fire fighting unit, a swimming pool, and the Jagatjit Municipal Library at Kapurthala.  During 1981-82, it made contributions totaling to Rs. 6000 to the Government Randhit College, the Gaushala Committee and the Sanatan Dharam Sabha for looking after the cremation ground.  It also maintains 11.45 km of roads.

Phagwara Municipality

           Constituted in 1904, Phagwara is a class I municipality. Hadiabad Municipal Committee was merged with it in September 1953.  According to the 1981 Censes, the area of the town within municipal limits was 10.36 sq. km. and the population 75,961.

           The amentias provided include water supply, street-lighting, underground drains and sanitary and refuse disposal arrangements.  The Public Health Department provided the water supply in the Model Town area in 1955.  In 1969, the municipal committee started its own water supply scheme.  Underground drains were laid in 1958.  There is a fire service, a library and three reading rooms in the town.  During 1981-82, the municipal committee contributed  Rs. 1200 to the Gulab Devi T. B. Hospital, Jalandhar.  It also maintains 55 km of roads.

Sultanpur  Lodhi  Municipality

           The municipality was constituted in 1919 under the princely state and is a class II municipality.  In 1981-82, the municipal committee had 11 members.

           According to the 1981 census, the area of the town within municipal limits was 10.36 sq. km. and the population 12,143.

           The civic services handled by the municipal committee include street lighting and sanitation.  It maintains the Mata Sulakhni Municipal Library and 11 km of roads.

(b)       Town and Country Planning and Housing

           The Divisional Town Planner, Jalandhar looks after Kapurthala District also.  This officer is engaged in the preparation of master plans of various class I and class II towns.  Besides, he prepares the layout plans for various schemes, viz. town planning scheme for the municipal committees, development schemes and street schemes for the improvement trusts, urban estates for the Housing and Urban Development, housing board schemes for the Housing Board, industrial areas and industrial development colonies and rehabilitation colonies.

           Draft master plans for Kapurthala and Phagwara towns have been prepared which have received the approval of the Chief Town Planner, Punjab.  A master plan for Sultanpur Lodhi is under process.

           Town planning schemes are prepared under section 192 of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911.  This office advises the municipal committees in the preparation and implementation of these schemes and also in dealing with building application in certain areas.

           Under the scheme of the State Government to provide housing sites to landless workers, the Divisional Town Planner has prepared layout plans for all villages where more than 100 sites/plots are to be provided.

Kapurthala Improvement Trust:

           An Improvement Trust in an ad hoc body constituted for the general purpose of city development.  It generally acquires land for the development schemes and allots/auctions plots to the public.  The Kapurthala Improvement Trust was formed in June 1974 under the Punjab Town Improvement Act, 1922 and consists of seven members including the chairman.  The terms of their office is three years.

           The sources of income of the Improvement Trust are: municipal contribution and loan from the government.

Phagwara Improvement Trust:

           This body was formed in January 1981-82 and consists of seven members.  The trust had developed two colonies at Phagwara.

(c)       Panchayati  Raj

           Panchayati Raj is a three tier system of administration for the development of villages, with the Panchayat at  the village level, the Panchayat Samiti at the block level and the Zila Parishad at the district level.  It has been introduced to provide responsible leadership for the all round development of rural areas.  The economic development of the community is entrusted to a representative body of the village people themselves and, in theory, the role of the Panchayati Raj is important.  It was launched in the State on 2 October 1961.

Gram Panchayats:

           The PEPSU Panchayat Raj Act, 2,008 Bikrami (1951 was brought into force in July 1951.  It was repealed by the Punjab Gram Panchayat Act, 1952, which was amended in 1960.  Under the Act, a gram sabha may be constituted for any village or group of contiguous villages with a population of not less than 500 and a gram panchayat is elected for the gram sabha area and not for each village.  The Government, of course, has the power to make relaxations.  Every voter on the electoral roll of the state Vidhan Sabha is a member of the gram sabha.  These members elect the panchayat members from amongst themselves.  If no woman is elected as a panch, the woman candidate securing the highest number of votes amongst the women candidates is co-operative-opted by the panchayat as a Panch, and, where no such women candidates are available, a woman is co-operative-opted as a panch by the prescribed authority.  Similarly, it has been provided that every panchayat shall have one or two members of the scheduled castes, depending upon the ratio of their population in the village.  Formerly, each panchayat consisted of 5 to 9 members including a sarpanch and a woman panch.  Under a new provision promulgated in June 1978, a village now elects five to eleven panches depending upon its population.  This number can go up to thirteen in a panchayat which fails to elect two women panches.  They would be co-operative-opted in that case.

           At the district headquarters, the District Development and Panchayat Officer co-operative-ordinates and supervises the working of the panchayats in the district.

           In 1981, there were 427 panchayats in the Kapurthala district with a total membership of 2,918.

Functions

           Under the Punjab Gram Panchayat Act, 1952, the panchayats have been vested with judicial and executive powers besides being an important agency for rural development.  On the criminal side, they have been given powers to try certain minor offences like petty, theft, hurt, affray, and commission of public nuisance.  They are under the control of the District Magistrate, who can hear appeals against their orders, and transfer cases from one panchayat  to another.  On the civil and revenue side, the panchayats have been given powers to try civil and revenue judicial cases, within certain monetary limits, and in respect of these cases, they are under the control of the District Judge and the Collector, respectively.

           Besides, judicial work, the panchayats look to the requirements of their respective areas in regard to agriculture, education, animal husbandry, public health and sanitation including water supply, works of public utility, games and sports, industries, medical health and relief to the poor.  They are expected to arrange 50 per cent of the cost of local development works sponsored by the Development Department, either in case, kind or labour, and with the help of the concerned departments, they have been responsible for starting a number of single teacher primary schools, construction on of new school buildings and repairing and remodeling of old ones, provision of drinking water arrangements in the schools, raising of aided libraries, provision of community listening sets, construction and repairing of panchayat ghars, building of dispensaries, planting of trees, arranging playgrounds and children parks, construction of village approach roads, repairing and leveling of public paths, construction of drains, construction of culverts and pavements of streets, construction, repair and remodeling of wells for drinking water and remodeling and repairing of ponds.

Sources  of  Revenue

           The main sources of income of the panchayats are: grants-in-aid from Government ; a percentage of land revenue collection, donations, taxes, duties, cesses and fees, income from village common lands; sale of proceeds of dust, dirt and dung, etc.  The fines and penalities, which the panchayats impose, are also transferred to their funds.

           The income of the panchayats in the Kapurthala District, during 1977-78 to 1981-82, is given below:

Sources of Income

1977-78

(Rs)

1978-79

(Rs)

1979-80

(Rs)

1980-81

(Rs)

1981-82

(Rs)

Grants from Government

4,33,227

2,64,367

23,15,766

5,66,414

51,01,230

Voluntary contributions

7,690

97,494

1,13,930

1,70,206

41,156

House Tax

1,69,697

1,72,711

1,70,460

2,36,853

1,97,139

 

Total

 

6,10,614

 

5,34,572

 

26,00,156

 

9,73,473

 

53,39,525

 

 

(Source:          Director, Rural Development and Panchayats, Punjab, Chandigarh)

Achievements

           During 1981-82, the panchayats in the district constructed 28 new school buildings and repaired 9 of the existing ones, opened 6 libraries, constructed 13 panchayat ghars and 10 culverts, made 1,00,814 metres drains pucca, besides pavement of streets, etc.

           As regards judicial work done during 1981-82, the panchayats in the district decided 9 revenue cases and 3 criminal cases.

Panchayat Samitis:

           Constituted under the Punjab Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Act, 1961, the Panchayat Samitis form the second tier of the Panchayati Raj.  This tier of local self-Government acts as bridge between the Zila Parishads and village panchayats.

           There are four panchayat samitis in the district, i.e. one in each block.  According to the Punjab Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Act, 1961, each panchayat samiti consists of 16 members elected by the Panches and Sarpanches from amongst themselves; two members elected by the co-operative-operative societies, and one member elected by the market committees.  Besides, every MLA with his constituency in the block works on the panchayat samitis as an associate member (Prior to the abolition of the Punjab Vidhan Parishad in 1969, the membership of a panchayat samiti also included such members of the Punjab Vidhan Parishad as the Government might by order specify).  Two women interested in social work and four persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, if not elected otherwise are co-operative-opted as members.  The Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) and the Block Development and Panchayat Officer of the block, work as ex-officio members, without the right to vote.  The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman are elected from amongst the elected members and their term of office is five years.

           The panchayat samitis provide and make arrangements for the requirements of the area under their jurisdiction, in respect of agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries, health and rural sanitation, communications, social education, co-operative and such other miscellaneous work as development of cottage and small-scale industries and other local development activities.  The panchayat samiti is also the agent of the Government for the formulation and execution of Community Development Programme.

           The main sources of income of the panchayat samiti are: local rate, fees derived from schools and markets, fee from fairs and shows, rents and profits accruing from properties vested in it, and such money and grants which Government may place at its disposal.  Besides, the panchayat samiti can, with the permission of the Zila Parishad, impose any tax which the State legislature has power to impose under the Constitution.

Zila Parishad:

           Prior to the formation of Zila Parishads in the State, the functions of Zila Parishads were performed by the District Boards.  The District  Boards used to attend to the development of the villages in the manner as the municipal committees looked after the work of the urban areas.

           Since Kapurthala District was a princely state prior to the partition, the functions of the District Board were performed by the respective department of the State.  The Zila Parishad, Kapurthala was constituted on 1 April 1962 under the Punjab Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishad Act, 1961.

           The Zila Parishad comprises Chairman of every Panchayat Samiti, two members elected by each panchayat samiti, MP and MLA representing the district or any part thereof, and the Deputy Commissioner.  Two women and five members belonging to the Scheduled Castes, if not elected otherwise, are co-operative-opted as members.  The MPs, MLAs and the Deputy Commissioner do not have the right to vote.  The Zila Parishad has a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman, elected by the primary members, Chairman of the panchayat samities and co-opted members, from amongst themselves, for five years.  The Secretary of the Zila Parishad is appointed by the Government.

           The Zila Parishad consolidates and co-operative-ordinates the plans prepared by the panchayat samitis, examines and approves the budgets of the panchayat samitis and advises the Government in regard to panchayats and panchayat samitis and keeps a watch over agricultural  production programmes and construction works.

           All the roads maintained by the Zila Parishad have been transferred to the Public Works Department and since 31 March 1976, no road is being maintained by the Zila Parishad, Kapurthala.

           The Zila Parishad, Kapurthala, does not impose any tax.  The main sources of income are State Government funds allotted to it and local rate.  The income and expenditure of the Zila Parishad, Kapurthala, during 1977-78 to 1981-82, is give hereunder:

 

 

Year

 

Income

(Rs)

 

Expenditure

(Rs)

1977-78

16,55,772

10,25,769

1978-79

20,96,115

20,69,217

1979-80

20,13,750

20,93,690

1980-81

5,50,730

9,93,150

1981-82

5,59,686

5,50,881

 

           (Source:          The Secretary, Zila Parishad, Kapurthala )

APPENDIX

Income and Expenditure of Municipalities in the Kapurthala District, 1977-78 to 1981-82

 

Name of Municipality

 

Particulars

Year

1977-78

(Rs)

1978-79

(Rs)

1979-80

(Rs)

1980-81

(Rs)

1981-82

(Rs)

 

Kapurthala

Income

29,65,000

33,93,000

35,18,000

44,93,000

58,03,000

 

Expenditure

34,82,000

31,92,000

35,69,000

47,42,000

57,14,000

Phagwara

Income

37,89,000

49,72,000

56,17,000

66,30,000

77,72,000

 

Expenditure

39,12,000

45,68,000

57,98,000

62,72,000

80,81,000

Sultanpur Lodhi

Income

5,47,000

9,79,000

8,27,000

10,03,000

9,75,000

 

Expenditure

6,20,000

9,88,000

8,75,000

9,43,000

10,01,000

 

(Statistical Abstract of Punjab 1978 to 1982)

 

 

CHAPTER   XV

 

EDUCATION  AND  CULTURE

 

v     Historical Background

v     Literacy and Educational Standard

v     General Education

v     Professional and Technical Education

v     Physical Education

v     Cultivation of Fine Arts

v     Oriental Schools and Colleges

v     Adult Literacy, Social Education and measures for the Diffusion of Culture among the Masses

v     Cultural and Literary Societies

v     Libraries

v     Museums, etc

 

(a)       Historical  Background

 

           Modern education was introduced in this district in 1856 when Raja Randhir Singh, the then ruler founded a school at Kapurthala and in 1864, teaching up to the Entrance Standard was introduced by an American Mission.  It continued to be run as a high school till 1896 and was raised to the status of an Intermediate Arts College by Raja Jagatjit Singh.  Degree classes were added in 1946.  It is now known as ‘Randhir College’.

           The Kapurthala State Gazetteer of 1904 gives an account of the educational set-up then obtaining.  There were two high schools, the State High Schools one Phagwara and the Sabha High School at Kapurthala ; 4 middle School in the each at Sultanpur Lodhi, Nadala, Bhunga and Kala; and 25 primary schools, one the rural areas.  Besides, there were 82 indigenous schools in the State, 55 being Mohammedans and 27 Hindu schools.  The education was of secular character.  In addition to secular education, religious instructions were also imparted in the gurudwaras, mosques and dharamshalas.  The medium of instruction in the schools was generally Urdu.  Persian, Gurmukhi and Sanskrit were taught up to the primary standard.  Private schools existed for teaching landed script in several towns in the erstwhile State.  Some village schools taught the old system of accounts.  These were not given any grants from the exchequer and the expenditure was met from the small fee paid by the students.

           After the attainment of freedom by the country in 1947, there was further expansion of educational facilities.  The number of primary, middle, high and higher secondary schools in the district was 228, 26, 26 and 12 respectively on 31 March 1961.  There were two arts and science colleges, viz. Randhir College, Kapurthala and Ramgarhia College, Phagwara.

           Facilities at all levels of education are constantly expanding.  More institutions are coming up and varied courses of studies are being included in school and college syllabi.  Access to sources of learning has also widened.  Keeping the needs of society in view, the State Government have formulated many programmes for reforming and expanding education, particularly to take it to the underprivileged and deprived sections of society.  The number of educational institutions in the distraction 30 September 1981, was 12 colleges, 10 higher secondary schools, 79 high schools, 63 middle schools and 486 primary and basic primary schools.

 

(b)       Literacy  and  Educational  Standards

           The State has undertaken to give a vocational bias to education.  In 1901, the percentage of literate males was 5.5 and of females 0.3.  In 1905, the total number of scholars in the State schools was 2,471.  In 1960-61, the school going boys past five years and below 15 were 55 per cent of the male population.  Female literacy increased from 11.36 per cent in 1951 to 27.99 in 1971.  According to the 1981 Census, the literacy rate for the district was 44.85 per cent as against the State figure of 41.28, the male and female literacy rates being 50.77 and 38.27 per cent, respectively

           The following table shows the expansion of the school system in the district since 1960-61:

 

 

 

1960-61

 

1965-66

 

1970-71

 

1975-76

As on 30 September 1981

 

Boys

Girls

Boys

Girls

Boys

Girls

Boys

Girls

Boys

Girls

Primary Schools

181

47

261

-

269

-

392

-

482

4

Middle Schools

20

6

25

5

28

5

49

6

62

1

High/Higher Secondary Schools

27

11

32

11

41

11

64

12

75

14

Total

228

64

318

16

338

16

505

18

619

19

 

(Census of India, 1961, Punjab District Census Handbook No. 15, Kapurthala District, p 27; Statistical Abstract of Punjab 1967, 1974, and 1982 and District Education Officer, Kapurthala )

           A number of educational societies, missions and philanthropic endowments in the district render valuable service to the people in the field of education.  These are briefly mentioned below:

Educational Societies rendering service in the field of Education:

(i)       Ramgarhia Educational Council, Phagwara:-        Starting with a Ramgarhia Primary School at Phagwara in 1929, the Council established many institutions at Phagwara which include the Ramgarhia College, the Ramgarhia College of Education, the Ramgarhia Polytechnic, G.N.B.L. Ramgarhia College for Women, the Bibi Nanaki Ramgarhia Girls’ High School, the Ramgarhia Girls, High School, the Ramgarhia Model High School for boys, and the Ramgarhia Middle School for boys at Nangal Majha.

(ii)      Sanatan Dharam Sabha:-    Besides, the S.D. College for Women at Sultanpur Lodhi, the Sabha is running the Sanatan Dharam Mathra Dass Higher Secondary School at Kapurthala, the S.D. Putri Pathshala, at Hadiabad and the S.D. High School for boys at Sultanpur Lodhi.

(iii)     Hindi Educational Society, Kapurthala:-    This society running a Hindu Kanya College, Kapurthala and a Hindu Putri Pathshala at Kapurthala where emphasis is laid on inculcating lofty ideals and building up character among the girl students.

(iv)      Phagwara Educational Society, Phagwara:-           This society also contributes towards the expansion of female education in the district.  It opened a college for Women at Phagwara in 1965 which has been named the Kamla Nehru College.

(v)       The Arya Smaj:-       The Samaj is running a higher secondary school for boys at Phagwara.

(vi)      Singh Sabha and other Sikh Societies:-     A dozen educational institutions, from the middle to the degree level, are being run at various places by these societies.

Women’s Education:

           The number of students in the three girls’ schools in 1905 was 288.  The girls’ schools at Kapurthala and Phagwara were each divided into three branches, teaching Persian, Gurmukhi and Sanskrit, up to the primary standard.  In the Sultanpur Lodhi school, Sanskrit alone was taught.  Instruction in needle work and weaving was included in the curriculum.  Importance was given to religious instruction.  Hindu girls were taught the Vishnu Sahasranama and Sikh girls the Japji while Mohammedan girls studied the Koran.

Education of Scheduled Castes and other Backward Classes:

           In the Government run institutions, education for these classes is free right up to M.A. level.  Free books, stipends and scholarships are awarded to students belonging to these castes in all institutions including colleges under the various schemes sponsored by the State and Union Governments.  Seats are reserved for them in various professional and technical institutions.

           The financial assistance given to the students belonging to the scheduled Castes and other Backward Classes in the district, during 1977-78 to 1981-82, is given below:

 

Year

Stipends (Rs.)

Number of students benefited

1977-78

9,99,248

15,141

1978-79

6,55,276

26,075

1979-80

4,83,536

15,161

1980-81

18,34,917

19,267

1981-82

17,22,406

17,359

 

           (Source:          District Education Officer, Kapurthala )

           The number of Scheduled Castes students studying in different schools in the district, as on 30 September, 1981, was as under:

 

Type of Institution

Number of Scheduled Castes Students

Boys

Girls

Total

Primary Schools (Class I to V)

13,000

10,000

23,000

Middle Schools(Class VI to VIII)

4,000

2,000

6,000

High/Higher Secondary (Class IX to XI)

1,000

1,000

2,000

 

                                (Statistical Abstract of Punjab, 1982)

Medium of Instruction:

           Punjabi is the first language and the medium of instruction in Government schools at all levels.  The teaching of Hindi is compulsory from the fourth class though facilities are inadequate.  Privately-managed schools have been given the option to retain Punjabi or Hindi as the medium of instruction, but such schools as opt for Hindi are required to teach Punjabi as a compulsory language.

Educational Set-up:

           The District Educational Officer, Kapurthala, is overall charge of the educational activities up to the high and higher secondary schools levels in the district.  He functions under the Director of Public Instruction (Schools), Punjab, through the Circle Education Officer, Jalandhar.  The District Education Officer is assisted by 2 Deputy District Education Officer, 1 Administration Officer, 1 District Science Supervisor, 1 Assistant Guidance Counsellor, 1 Assistant Education Officer (Physical Training) 1 Circular Incharge (N.F.C) and miscellaneous Class III and Class IV staff.

           The primary schools function under the control of the Deputy District Education Officer (Primary).  He is assisted by the Block Education Officers and miscellaneous class III and class IV staff.

 

(c)       General  Education

Pre-Primary Schools:

           A number of nursery and junior model schools (Government and private) are functioning in the district.  Block Development authorities also run nursery schools or balwadis.

Primary and Basic Schools:

           Free education was introduced in the State during the Third Five-Year Plan (1961-66) for the age group 6-7 in 1961-62 and extended to the age group 7-8 in 1962-63, 8-9 in 1963-64, 9-10 in 1964-65 and 10-11 in 1965-66.  The Central Government proposed to provide facilities for all children in the age group of 6—11 by the end of the Fifth Five-Year Plan.  Under the scheme “Expansion of Educational Facilities—age group 6—11”, many government primary schools (single teacher) have been opened and a large number of trained teachers appointed to cope with the additional enrolment in primary classes.

           The total number of primary/basic primary schools, both Government and private, in the district, as on 30 September 1981 was 486 with an enrolment of 66,000.  The number of teachers, as on 30 September 1981, in the schools was 1,820 (867 male and 953 female).

Secondary Schools:

           At the secondary stage, there were 10 higher secondary schools, 79 high schools and 63 middle schools in the district as on 30 September 1981.  The total number of scholars studying in these schools from VI to VIII Classes and from IX to XI Classes was 27,000 and 12,000 respectively.  The total number of teachers in all the middle, high/higher secondary schools, both Government and private, in the district, as on 30 September 1981 was 1,214 (728 males and 486 females and 701 (475 males and 226 females), respectively.

           The details regarding the number of educational institutions and students in the district are given in Appendices I and II on pages 266 and 267, respectively.

Higher Education:

           In 1951, there were 2 arts and science colleges, one each at Kapurthala and Phagwara in the district.  Their number increased to 12 in 1981-82.

           The colleges functioning in the district in 1981-82 are given below:

Tehsil   Kapurthala

1.                Government Randhir College, Kapurthala

2.                Sant Prem Singh Karamsar Khalsa College, Begowal

3.                Guru Nanak Prem Karamsar College, Nadala

4.                Hindu Kanya College, Kapurthala

Tehsil  Sultanpur Lodhi

5.                Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Sultanpur Lodhi

6.                S.D. College for Women, Sultanpur Lodhi

Tehsil  Phagwara

7.                Ramgarhia College, Phagwara

8.                Guru Nanak College, Sukhchainana Sahib, Phagwara

9.                Sant Baba Dalip Singh Memorial Khalsa College, Dumeli

10.             Guru Nanak Nav Bharat College, Narur Panchat

11.             Kamla Nehru College for Women, Phagwara

12.             Guru Nanak Bhai Lalo Ramgarhia College for Women, Satnampura, Phagwara.

Of these, 4 colleges are exclusively for girls, while the remaining 8 are co-operative-educational.  All these colleges are affiliated to the Guru Nanak Development University, Amritsar.

           A brief description of each of these is given below:

(1)       Government Randhir College, Kapurthala:-        It was originally founded by Raja Randhir Singh of the erstwhile Kapurthala State in 1856, then in the form of a school to which oriental training classes for Sanskrit up to Shastri level were attached. In 1864, teaching up to the Entrance Standard  was introduced by the American Mission, to which the State made a grant for the maintenance of the school.  The present building of the college was erected by Raja Kharak Singh in 1875 in memory of itsfounder Raja Randhir Singh, and named after him.  It continued to be high school till 1896, and in 1897 was raised to the level of an Intermediate Arts College.  Degree classes were added in 1946.

           The college imparts instruction in Presumption-University (Humanities Group); 3-Year Degree Course (Arts and Science); and Presumption-Engineering and Presumption-Medical.  Arrangements also exist in the college for preparing students for the M.A. degree in English.

           The college has laboratories, library and reading room, a dispensary and a hostel.  It imparts training under National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme.  A number of social, cultural, literary societies, etc. function in the college.  It publishes its magazine, Randhir.

           The number of students on the rolls of the colletge, during 1981-82, was 1,309.

(2)       Sant Prem Singh Karamsar Khalsa College, Begowal:-   The college was founded in 1970 to commemorate the cherished memories of Sant Prem Singh of Dera Murala and Sant Karam Singh of Hoti Mardan (now Maksudpur).

           The college prepares students for the Presumption-University course and 3-Year Degree Course (Arts), including Home Science for girls.  It also provides training under National Cadet Corps, national Service Scheme and Military Science.

           A number of social, cultural, literary societies, etc. function in the College.  It also brings out its magazine, The Murala.

           The number of students on the rolls of the college, during 1981-82, was 223.

(3)       Guru Nanak Prem Karamsar College, Nadala:-    Started in 1970, the college imparts instruction in the Presumption-University (Humanities Group) and the 3-Year Degree Course (Arts Group).  It also offers opportunities for training under National Cadet Corps.  The college has a library and a vocational guidance centre.  A number of social, cultural and literary societies function in the college.  Besides, debates, declamation contests and lectures by prominent educationists and scholars are arranged, from time to time, for the benefit of the students.

           The college brings out its magazine, The Chatrik.

           The number of students on the rolls of the college, during 1981-82 was 379.

(4)       Hindu Kanya College, Kapurthala:-          Started in 1969, the college runs the Presumption-University (Humanities Group) and 3-Year Degree Course Classes (Arts Group).  There is provision for National Cadet Corps training.  Besides, a number of social, cultural and literary societies function in the college which aim at the healthy development of the personality of girl students.

           The college has a library, a reading room, and a book bank.  For the welfare of the students, the college has a Vidyarthi Sahayak Sabha and a Welfare Board.

           The college publishes its magazine twice a year.

           The number of students on the rolls of the college, during 1981-82, was 353.

(5)       Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Sultanpur Lodhi:-   Started in 1969, the college imparts instruction in Pre-University and 3-year Degree Course (Humanities Group).  Ample facilities exist for the promotion of games in the college.  The college has a library.  A number of social, cultural and literary societies including planning forum, student’s Central association and Youth festival, etc. function in the college.  It publishes it’s magazine, The Sacred Bein.

           The number of students on the rolls of the college, during 1981-82, was 539.

(6)       S.D. College for Women, Sultanpur Lodhi:-        The college was started in 1974 to celebrate International Women Year and it got affiliation in 1975.

           It prepares students for the Presumption-University (Humanities Group) and the 3-Year Degree Course (Arts Group).

           The number of students on the rolls of the college, during 1981-82, was 266.

(7)       Ramgarhia College, Phagwara:-     Started in 1946, this is the most popular college in the area.  It imparts instruction in Pre-University (Humanities Group); in 3-Year Degree Course (Arts and Science Groups); and in Pre-Engineering and Pre-Medical.  Besides, the college has arrangements for preparing students for the M.A. degree in History.

           The college has well furnished non-resident students’ center.  It provides adequate facilities to the students for studies and recreation in their spare hours.  The college has separate hostels for boys and girls.  It brings out its magazine, The Jyoti. The number of students on the rolls of the college, during 1981-82, was 946.

 

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