Administrative Hierarchy in Garhwal Bhabhar

Characteristics of Kham Settlement in Garhwal Bhabhar -13

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                            British Administration in Garhwal   -89   

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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -107

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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -944

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

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                       Responsibilities of Sirgiroh

 The jobs of Sirgiroh (equal to Jamindar or Thokdar) in Bhabhar were –

  To collect tax (rent) from farmers and to deposit with area Patwari.

  Sirgiroh used to administrate law and orders of villages under him. Government used to pay 10 percent of rent to Sirgiroh. It was must for Sirgiroh to assist Patwari in rent collection and law and order administration.

                             Responsibilities of Patwari

                 Government used to offer responsibilities to Patwari for one or two circles.

  Patwari used to inspire people for farmers beginning cutting forest and making land for agriculture.  Patwari with the help used to administrate the heirs for land in case of death of cultivators.

        There were more crimes in Bhabhar than hills of Garhwal as thefts, dacoit, extortion, kidnapping of women, unauthorized alcohol production and trading, rapes, Thagi in selling land /other’s land, acquiring other’s land by force, gambling, unauthorized trading of charas ganja etc. Patwaris had to tackle such crimes. Bhabhar required more skillful Patwaris. However, usually, administration used to transfer the incapable and lazy Patwaris to Bhabhar.

     Patwaris were supposed to measure and map the land. However, most of the Patwaris were lazy and corrupt and did not do their work with skill.

 Patwaris used to earn money by corrupt methods.

                             Kham Superintendent

 The highest rank officer for Kham Bhabhar was superintendent. His head quarter was in Kotdwara. Patwari, irrigation department, forest department were under Kham Superintendent. His main responsibility was for administration the region. He used to settle  police, criminal courts and other disputes. He had to visit regularly the villages. In many correspondences, government stated him as Estate Jamindar or Estate manager.  

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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 18/12/2016

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -945

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*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter

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(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

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References  

 1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page- 249-278

2-Stowell, 11919, Report on revision on rent in Garhwal Bhabhar 1919 page 7

3- Dharma Nand Joshi, 1909, Report on Rent in Garhwal Bhabhar 1909 page 3

4-Clay, 1914, Report on Rent in Garhwal Bhabhar, 1914, page 13

5-Ibbetson, 1929, Report on Rent in Garhwal Bhabhar, 1929 page 2

6- Gairola T.D., Selected Revenue Decisions of Kumaon page 201 

Xx

History of British Rule, Administration , Policies, Revenue system,  over Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand ; History of British Rule , Administration , Policies Revenue system  over Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Chamoli Garhwal, Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Rudraprayag Garhwal, Almora Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Dehradun , Champawat Kumaon, Uttarakhand ; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, ,Revenue system  over Bageshwar  Kumaon, Uttarakhand ;

History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, Revenue system over Haridwar, Pithoragarh Kumaon, Uttarakhand;