District Administration

District Administration

Deputy Commissioner's Role

The responsibility of General Administration of the District lies with the Deputy Commissioner. He is the Executive Head and has three fold roles as (i) Deputy Commissioner,(ii) District Collector and (iii) District Magistrate.

He is assisted by the following officers for carrying out day to day work in various fields:--

1. Additional Deputy Commissioner
2. Assistant Commissioner (General)
3. Assistant Commissioner (Grievances)
4. Executive Magistrate
5. District Revenue Officer
6. District Transport Officer
7. District Development and Panchayat Officer
8. Civil Defense Officer
9. Urban Ceiling Officer

The Deputy Commissioner is the Chief Revenue Officer as District Collector and is responsible for collection of Revenue and other Govt. dues recoverable as arrears of Land Revenue. He deals with the Natural Calamities like draught, unseasonal rains, hailstorms, floods and fire etc.

Under the Registration Act the District Collector exercises the Powers of Registrar of the District and he controls and supervises the work of Registration of deeds. He also function as Marriage Officer under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. Further under the Cinematograph Act, the District Magistrate is the Licencing Authority in his jurisdiction. The administration of the Police in a district is vested in the District Superintendent, but under the General direction of the District Magistrate as per provisions of section 4 of the Indian Police Act, 1861.

Rule 1.15 of the Punjab Police Rules, 1934, also provides the powers of District Magistrate as under:--

The District Magistrate is the head of the Criminal Administration of the District and the Police force is the instrument provided by Government to enable him to enforce his authority and fulfill his responsibility for the maintenance of Law & Order. The police force in a District is, therefore, placed by Law under the General control and direction of the District Magistrate, who is responsible and carries out his duties in such a manner that effective protection is afforded to the public and against lawlessness and disorder."

District Magistrate is thus responsible for the maintenance of Law & Order within the limit of his jurisdiction. He is conferred with very wide powers by the law, which if used prudently can be very effective in maintaining peace and tranquility. The police force is mainly an instrument provided by Law for the District Magistrate. He can impose restriction on the movement of unlawful Assembly under Section 144 Cr.P.C. and can also impose curfew keeping in view the situation.

He is authorised to inspect the Offices/Courts of Sub Divisional Officers (Civil), Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars, Treasuries, Sub Treasuries, Jails, Hospitals, Dispenseries, Schools, Blocks, Police Stations, Second Class Local Bodies, Improvement Trusts and all other offices of Punjab Government, the A.C.Rs of whose Heads of offices he is required to write. In this way, he has effective control over the Administration.

The Deputy Commissioner holds courts and hears appeals under the following Acts against the order of Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), passed as Assistant Collector Ist Grade and Sales Commissioner and Settlement Commissioner:--

1. Under the Land Revenue Act,1887.
2. Under the Punjab Tenancy Act,1887.
3. Displaced Persons (Compensation & Rehabilitation) Act,1954.
4. Punjab Package Deal Properties (Disposal) Act,1976.
5. Urban Land (Ceiling & Regulations) Act, 1976.

Besides it, he decides the lambardari cases.

List of Deputy Commissioners

Sr. No	Name	From	To
1	L.Saunders	20th April 1849	31st Dec. 1852
2	J.Dennison	1st January 1853	31st July 1853
3	T.H.Copper	1st August 1853	24th April 1860
4	A.J.Farrington	25th April 1860	31st May 1866
5	G.Lewin	1st June 1866	13rd June 1867
6	T.W.Smyth	14th June 1867	24th July 1867
7	G.Lewin	25th July 1867	14th Aug.1867
8	D.G.Barkley	15th Aug 1867	3rd Oct.1867
9	G.Lewin	24th Oct. 1867	8th Dec. 1867
10	Major H.B.Urmston	9th Dec.1867	31st July 1868
11	L.Griffin	1st Aug. 1868	13th January 1869
12	D.Fitzpatrick	14th January 1869	14th March 1869
13	W.Coldstream	15th March 1869	15th March 1869
14	F.M.Birch	16th March 1869	31st July 1869
15	J.W.Gardiner	1st Aug. 1869	1st Sep.1870
16	F.M.Birch	2nd Sep.1870	31st July 1871
17	C.H.Hall	1st Aug. 1871	16th January 1872
18	C.H.Marshall	17th January 1872	12th April 1872
19	C.H.Hall	13th April 1872	27th May1872
20	J.A.Montgomery	28 may 1872	29th May 1872
21	J.W. Smyth	30 May 1872	10th Sep 1872
22	C.H. Hall	11 Sep 1872	2nd March 1873
23	W.Coldstream	3rd March 1873	21st Oct. 1873
24	C.H. Hall	22nd Oct. 1873	16th April 1874
25	T.W. Smyth	17th April 1874	30th Aug. 1874
26	C.Mcheile	31st Aug. 1874	30th Sep. 1874
27	T.W.Smyth	1st Oct. 1874	1st Nov. 1874
28	C.H. Hall	2nd Nov. 1874	7th June 1876
29	C.R.Hawkins	8th June 1876	20th Oct. 18776
30	C.H.Hall	21st Oct.1876	13rd March 1877
31	J.D.Tremlett	14th March 1877	17th July 1877
32	W.P. Woodward	18th July 1877	19th July 1877
33	J.W.Gardner	20th July 1877	2nd Jan. 1878
34	W. Young	3rd Jan. 1878	3212st Jan. 1878
35	J.W. Gardiner	1st Feb.1878	11st Sep. 1878
36	C.R. Hawkins	12nd Sep. 1878	14th Nov. 1878
37	J.D.Tremlett	15 Nov 1878	2 nd Feb. 1879
38	C.R. Hawkings	3rd Feb. 1879	1st Aug. 1881
39	R.Clarke	2nd Aug. 1881	3rd Jan. 1882
40	J.W. Gardiner	4 Jan.1882	1st March 1882
41	G.R. Hawkins	2nd March 1882	21st March 1883
42	G. Knox	22nd March 1883	9th June 1884
43	C.F. Massy	10th June 1884	1st Oct. 1884
44	C.R.Hawkins	2nd Oct. 1884	11 Nov. 1884
45	R.Udny	12th Nov. 1884	13rd Jan. 1885
46	R.M. Lang	14 Jan. 1885	4th Sep. 1886
47	J. Ronnie	5th Sep. 1886	4th Oct. 1886
48	R.M. Lang	5th Oct. 1886	2 Sep. 1888
49	J.A. Grant	3rd Sep. 1888	17th Oct. 1888
50	R.M. Lang	18th Oct 1888	15th Sep 1889
51	J.A.Grant	16th Sep. 1889	18 th Oct. 1890
52	R.M. Lang	19th Oct. 1889	2nd Sep. 1890
53	F.P. Joung	1st April 1891	14th Oct. 1892
54	C.F. Massy	15th Oct. 1892	6th March 1893
55	J.A.Grant	7th March 1893	7th March 1893
56	A.Harrison	8th March 1893	2nd April 1893
57	R.M. Lang	3rd April 1893	25th March 1895
58	E.R. Abbott,Esqurie	27th March 1895	5th April 1895
59	A. Kensington,Esouire	5th April 1895	4th March 1896
60	Captain C.M. Dallas	4th March 1896	9th Dec. 1896
61	Captain Burlton	9th Dec. 1896	26th Dec.1896
62	Captain C.M. Dallas	26th Dec. 1896	16th July1897
63	Captain H.Fox Strangways	16th July 1897	17th July 1897
64	A.E.Martineau, Esquire	17th July 1897	20th Nov.1897
65	Captain C.M. Dallas	20th Nov. 1897	31st March 1898
66	W.Chevis, Esquire	31st March 1898	25th Aug. 1898
67	M.L.Waring, Esquire	25th Aug. 1898	25th bOct.1898
68	W.Chevis, Esquire	25th Oct. 1898	30th July 1899
69	A.Calvert, Esquire	30th July 1899	3rd Aug.1899
70	L.French, Esquire	3rd Aug. 1899	23rd Sep.1899
71	W.Chevis, Esquire	23rd Sep. 1899	5th Nov. 1899
72	A.M.Stow, Esquire	5th Nov. 1899	14th April 1900
73	A.Langley , Esquire	14th April 1900
74	A.M.Stow, Esquire		13th June 1900
75	W.Le. Malan, Esquire	13th June 1900	14th Nov.1900
76	J.F.Connqlly, Esquire	14th Nov. 1900	20th April 1902
77	E.D.Maclagan, Esquire	20th April 1902	6th Aug.1902
78	B.H.Bird, Esquire	6th Aug. 1902	18th Oct.1902
79	E.D.Maclagan, Esquire	18th Oct.1902	29th June 1903
80	H.A.Sama, Esquire	30th June 1903	15th Oct.1903
81	E.D.Maclagan, Esquire	16th Oct.1903	20th April 1904
82	H.A.Sama, Esquire	21st April 1904	18th Dec. 1904
83	O.M. King, Esquire	20th Dec. 1904	21st July 1905
84	H.S.Williamson, Esquire	2nd July 1905	1st Sep. 1905
85	O.M. King, Esquire	2nd Sep. 1905	28th March 1906
86	H.A.Casson, Esquire	29th March 1906	27th March 1907
87	B.H.Bird, Esquire	28th March 1907	18th April 1907
88	Miles Irvingh, Esquire	19th April 1907	2nd March 1908
89	H.A.Casson, Esquire	3rd March 1908	13th April 1909
90	O.F.Lumsden, Esquire	14th April 1909	27th July 1911
91	R.B.Whitehead, Esquire	28th July 1911	22nd Oct. 1911
92	O.F.Lumsden, Esquire	23rd Oct. 1911	12th Dec.1911
93	Lt.Col.C.D.Egerton, I.A.	13th Dec. 1911	18th Feb.1912
94	P.L.Barker, Esquire	19th Feb. 1912	26th April 1912
95	H.D.Cralk, Esquire	27th April 1912	18th May 1912
96	J.Addison, Esquire	19th May 1912	3rd Oct. 1912
97	Lt. Col. C.R. Egerton	4th Oct.1912
98	C.M. King	1913	1916
99	Miles Irving	24-2-1919	5-8-1919
100	Henry Duffield Craik	2-2-1921	26-5-1921
101	J..M. Dunnett	27-5-1921	14-11-1923
102	F.H. Puckle	15-11-1923	20-4-1928
103	R.H.Crump	17-4-1928	1929
104	W.G. Bradford	1929	14-6-1930
105	R.H. Crump	14-6-1930	1-12-1930
106	A.V. Askinth	1-12-1930	1-9-1931
107	G.M.Jenkins	1-9-1931	4-11-1931
108	J.D. Penny	4-11-1931	2-1-1932
109	A. Macfar Quhar	28-2-1933	18-7-1934
110	Rai Sahib Izzet Rai	18-7-1934	31-8-1934
111	A. Macfar Quhar	31-1-1934	1-7-1936
112	I.E. Jones	1-7-1936	2-9-1936
113	A.A. Macdonald	2-9-1936	28-11-1938
114	I.E. Jones	28-11-1938	2-10-1939
115	A.A.Macdonald	2-10-1939	22-8-1941
116	Sundar Das	22-8-1941	25-9-1941
117	E.D. Moon	25-9-1941	9-7-1943
118	Rosham Lal	9-7-1943	16-7-1943
119	L.D. Addisin	16-7-1943	22-4-1946
120	J.D. Frazer	22-4-1946	22-5-1947
121	Mr. G.M. Brander.I.G.S.	24-5-1947	22-8-1947
122	Nukul Sen.I.C.S.	23-8-1947	6-10-1947
123	Devinder Singh P.C.S.	7-10-1947	10-10-1947
124	B.S. Narinder Singh I.A.S.	11-10-1947	11-7-1952
125	N.N. Kashyap I.C.S.	12-7-1952	14-10-1953
126	R.N. Chopra I.C.S.	15-10-191953	22-9-1954
127	S.K. Shhibber I.A.S.	23-9-1954	27-5-1956
128	H.B. Lal I.A.S.	28-5-1956	2-*12-1957
129	A.N. Kashyap I.A.S.	3-12-1957	8-6-1958
130	Balwant Singh I.A.S.	9-6-1958	31-5-1960
131	H.S. Ach Reja I.A.S.	1-6-1960	8-5-1961
132	Sunder Singh P.C.S.	9-5-1961	18-11-1962
133	P.N. Bhalla I.A.S.	19-11-1962	16-5-1964
134	Lall Singh Aujla P.S.S.	17-5-1964	30-6-1964
135	Iqbal Singh I.A.S.	1-7-1964	8-7-1965
136	S.S. Bedi I.A.S.	9-7-1965	15-12-1966
137	Kulwant Singh I.A.S.	16-12-1966	9-5-1969
138	K.S.Bains I.A.S.	10-5-1969	26-8-1971
139	Sukhbir Singh I.A.S.	27-8-1971	15-10-1975
140	J.D.Khanna I.A.S.	16-10-1975	21-4-1977
141	K.S. Janjua I.A.S.	22-4-1977	16-4-1978
142	Jai Singh Gill I.A.S.	16-4-1978	24-4-1980
143	Bikramjit Singh I.A.S.	25-4-1980	27-8-1980
144	S.M.S. Chahal I.A.S.	28-8-1980	27-8-1981
145	Sardar Singh I.A.S.	27-8-1981	15-7-1983
146	Gurdev Singh I.A.S.	16-7-1983	3-6-1984
147	Ramesh Inder Singh Mandher I.A.S.	4-6-1984	6-7-1987
148	Sarabjit Singh I.A.S.	7-7-1987	10-5-1992
149	Karanbir Singh Sidhu I.A.S.	11-5-1992	11-8-1996
150	A.S. Chhatwal I.A.S.	12-8-1996	29-8-1996
151	Amarjit Singh I.A.S.	30-8-1996	13-7-1998
152	Narinderjit Singh I.A.S.	13-7-1998	10-1-2002
153	Swinder Singh Puri I.A.S.	10-1-2002	7-11-2002
154	Iqbal Singh Sidhu I.A.S.	7-11-2002	20-5-2003
155	Raminder Singh I.A.S.	20-5-2003	23-12-2004
156	Kirandeep Singh Bhullar I.A.S	23-12-2004	19-3-2007

Additional Deputy Commissioner

The post of Additional Deputy Commissioner has been created to assist the Deputy Commissioner in his day-to-day working. The Additional Deputy Commissioner enjoys the same powers as that of Deputy Commissioner under the rules.

Functions of Additional Deputy Commissioner

With a view to lighten the enormously increasing workload of the Deputy Commissioner, the post of Additional Deputy Commissioner was created in the year 1979. He has been vested with the following powers under the various Acts-within the limits of the district:-

As Collector under the following Acts

1. The Punjab Land Revenue Act,1887.
2. The Punjab Occupancy Of Tenants(Vesting of Proprietary Rights)Act,1952.
3. The Punjab Tenancy Act,1887.
4. The Land Acquisition Act,1894.
5. The Punjab Restitution of Mortgage Land Act,1938.
6. The Punjab Village Common Land(Regulation) Act,1961.
7. The Indian Stamp Act,1899.

As Registrar under the Registration Act,1908.

As Deputy Commissioner Under the Punjab Aided School (Security of Services) Act,1969.

As Executive Magistrate , Addl. Deputy Commissioner , D.M under the Criminal Procedure Code,1973.

As Additional District Magistrate under the Arms Act of India and Petroleum Act,1934,

He has been appointed as Chairman of District Consultative Committee under Personal Accident Social Security Scheme vide Punjab Government Notification No 13/434/88-SW /9794 dated 27.9.1988.

Sub Divisional Officers (Civil)

The duties of the Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) within his Sub Division are almost similar to those of the Deputy Commissioner within his district. In all matters of administration , he has to be the Deputy Commissioner's principal agent.

He is also incharge of various development activities going on in the Sub Division and is also responsible for co-ordinating the work of various departments. For that he has to tour the area to keep a watch on the development activities, the revenue administration as also the law & Order situation in his Sub Division. Besides this he has to look after the grievances of the public and to attend to the problems arising out of the natural calamities. He supervises the work of Revenue agency in the Sub Division.

There is no denying the fact that the job of a Sub Divisonal Officer (civil) is independent in character to some extent. He is primarily responsible for everything that happens within his jurisdiction and must accordingly take his decisions to a large extent, independently.

Sub Divisional Officer (civil) is conferred with various powers under the land revenue and tenancy acts.

He also acts as Assistant Collector under the Punjab Land Revenue Act and Punjab Tenancy Act. He is also the appellate authority in cases decided by his subordinate revenue officers.

The Executive Magistrate placed by the State Government as incharge of the Sub Division is termed as the Sub Divisional Magistrate Under section 20(4) Cr.p.c.and under section 23 Cr.P.C. the Sub divisional Officer like other Executive Magistrates of the District is subordinate to the District Magistrate and is responsible for the maintenance of law and order within the limits of his local jurisdiction. He enjoys very wide powers under section 107/151,109,110,133,144,and 145 Cr.P.C. etc. He also hears court cases under these sections.

Tehsildar/ Naib Tehsildar.

Tehsildars are appointed by the Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Naib Tehsildar by the Commissioner of the Division. Their duties within Tehsil /Sub Tehsil are almost similar and manifold (except that partition cases are decided by Tehsildar). They enjoy the powers of Executive Magistrate, Assistant Collector and Sub Registrar/Joint Sub Registrar. Although there has been a recent move to appoint full fledged Sub-registrar for some of the larger Tehsils. The Revenue duties of Tehsildar are important. He is the Incharge of tehsil Revenue Agency and is responsible for proper preparation and maintenance of tehsil Revenue Record and Revenue Accounts. He is also responsible for recovery of government dues under the various Acts. He is supposed to have proper control over the working of Patwaris and Kanungos and for this purpose the Tehsildar and Naib Tehsildars make inspection of patwaris and kanungos working under them.

Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildar in fact are called Revenue officers holding separate circles and it is provided in para 242 of land Administration Manual that such allotted circle should be changed every year on October first, so that the responsibility of the Tehsildar for the whole of his charge may not be impaired. In Tehsil and Sub Tehsil, as and when Treasury Officers are not posted, then the Tehsildar and Naib Tehsildar work as Treasury Officer in addition to their own duties. Tehsildar also registers the marriages solemnized.

Besides enjoying powers under a few other land laws, they also attest uncontested mutations. Tehsildar is further empowered to hear partition cases and to make allotment/transfer and auction of evacuee properties, land under the Displaced Person (Compensation & Rehabilitation) Act,1954 and Punjab Package Deal properties (Disposal Act 1976) as Managing Officer and Tehsildar Sales respectively .

Kanungos

The Kanungo establishment consists of field Kanungo, office Kanungo and the District Kanungos. Its strength in each district can only be altered with the sanction of the government.

The field Kanungo should be constantly moving about his circle supervising the work of Patwari on the spot, except in the month of September when he stays at the Tehsil to check the Jamabandis received from the Patwaris. He also disposes of the demarcation applications marked to him by the Circle Revenue Officer. A field Kanungo is also responsible for the conduct and the work of the Patwari under his charge and it is his duty to report the work or neglect of duty or misconduct on the part of any Patwari.

The office Kanungo is the Tehsildar Revenue clerk and he is the custodian of all the record received from the patwari.

The District Kanungo is responsible for the efficiency of both the office and the field Kanungo and should be in camp inspecting their work for at least 15 days in each month from first October to 30th April. He is the keeper of all record received from Kanungo patwari, at sadar office.

Patwaris

Patwari is an important and effective official of the lowest ebb in the Revenue Agency. No efficient Revenue Administration of a district is possible unless the patwari staff is strong, properly trained and strictly supervised.

A Patwari has three chief duties:-

1. The maintenance of record of the crop grown at every harvest.
2. The keeping of the record of rights uptodate by the punctual record of mutations.
3. The account of preparation of statistical returns embodying the information derived from the harvest inspections, register of mutation and record of rights.

The limits of "Patwar circle" is a matter for the Commissioner to decide under para 238 of Land Administration Manual.

It is the responsibility of Patwari to report at once all serious calamities affecting the land or the crops and all severe outbreaks of diseases amongst men and beasts. He must aid the headman in revenue collection. He keeps up a diary and a work book. The entries should be made on the day on which the events come to the notice of the patwari.

The Patwari is responsible for the safe custody of all the records, maps and equipments of his circle that are in his charge. In the work book the Patwari will enter the work done by him on each day. His work is supervised by the field Kanungo, Sadar Kanungo & Circle Revenue Officer.