Memoir on Thar and

Sind, however, after traversing the length and bread(h of the districts in December 1854
and January 1855, expressed himself satisfied with their state generally, especially as
regarded crime, in communicating which to Government he observed,—“Nothing can be
more complete or gratifying than the change in 20 years:” a result which is in a great
measure most justly due and attributed to the settlement effected by Colonel Roberts in
1844. *
134. The judicial system in force in Sind generally, whereby the Kardars were vested
with extensive powers, was not applied uniformly to the Thurr and Parkur districts, for
reasons which will be gathered from the following” paragraphs, extracted from my report
to the Commissioner in Sind on the subject:—
“The Kardars’ time being so constantly occupied with revenue matters as now
conducted, will, it is to be feared, interfere much with the judicial system about to
be introduced; hitherto, my attention has been chiefly directed to the increase of
cultivation, and the curbing of the predatory habits of the different tribes in the
Desert; the former may be expected in course of time materially to assist the
latter.
“Litigation amongst the scattered and various tribes of the Desert is less common
than in more populous districts, and when causes for it have arisen, and the
parties have failed to come to an amicable adjustment amongst themselves, a
recommendation, after hearing both sides of the case, to submit their disputes to
arbitration, has seldom failed to have the desired effect,—a mode of settlement
more in consonance with their primitive ideas of justice, and more satisfactory
and binding to all parties, than any decision that could otherwise be arrived at,
after the most elaborate investigation. Pun- chayets assembled under these
circumstances combine the advantages of the local knowledge of the members,
who are generally small landed proprietors or merchants of the districts, and the
supervision of the Deputy Collector, the latter being sufficient to counteract any
intentional injustice. All classes of the natives of the Desert have shown the
utmost reliance on Punchayets thus conducted, and seldom wish for more than
that they shall assemble, and dispose of the case under my supervision.
“The distance of the Thurr districts, and consequent want of supervision over the
actions of the ative officials, combined with the limited requirements for judicial
interference, renders the present system, in my humble opinion, more applicable
* Extract paragraph 4 from a Report by the Commissioner in Sind to Government,
No. 38, elated 27th January 1855.
4. I lately visited the Thurr and Parkur district, which, within the memdry of the present generation, was a nest of
robbers, the terror of Guzerat, Kattywar and Kutch. Nothing could be more complete or gratifying than the change in
20 years. The people are now among the most orderly, most contented, and, I believe, the best governed under the
Indian Government, a result mainly attributable to the excellent settlement made by Colonel Roberts, and to the good
management of Lieutenant Raikes, who, for the last six years, has been in the sole charge of the districts
<strong>Memoir</strong> on the Thurr and Parkur Districts of Sind. Copyright © www.panhwar.com
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