Magistrates and Collectors
The Collector (or Collector-Magistrate)was the chief administrative official in the Indian Civil Service of a District or Indian Zillah.
He controlled a small province of several million inhabitants and was personally responsible to the Government for the area.
In this role he acted as magistrate and assigned to subordinates other responsibilities
- some criminal cases / the division of district jurisdiction
- treasury work,
- excise collection,
- measuring and assessing landed estates for taxation,
- control of property belonging to minors, or Wards of Court.
In addition he was head of police, and controlled the local jail, chaired Municipal Committees & Local Boards for hospitals and schools - especially vernacular schools. He reported on infectious diseases, provided temporary military encampment grounds and provision of rations for the troops. He carried out baptisms when clergy were not available. Where a railway existed, the Public Works Dept were also a responsiblity.
External links
District Collector Wikipedia
Sketches Of Social Life In India Details of the role of Collector-Magistrate