Malda Training Diary - Administrative Training Institute

Page 75 of 75
A really tiring day. I haven’t felt so tired even after the Dacca journey. Result of mental
anxiety.
We asked DM what to do about our case records. He told us to meet the District Judge and
request him to allot for us 4 cases at once.
10.4.1972
Work done
Chief Minister’s visit
Revenue Munshikhana training
Information
I was again at the Nezarath from 7 am. One more jeep from CMOH reported, as also that of
the Special Officer Tribal Welfare (SOTW), so that I had 5 in hand—what luxury!
Last night ADM was frantically sending me messages for a jeep! I told him he was to go in
DM’s car—and so it turned out. DM also went. I was in full formal regalia—the only one so
dressed. Could not be present when plane arrived as I was sent off to get fruits for CM’s
refreshment. I managed to reach the train in time and handed them over to Barkat Ali [Irr.
Min.]. ADM had disappeared in the crowed. I later heard he was tucked away in some of the
compartments behind, though’ he was to accompany CM as representative of the district. On
way back the same thing happened. The accompanying probationers unanimously deplored
ADM’s complete lack of sense of his position as DM’s representative. At all the functions, he
& SDO were left out & kept standing!
The tour went off extremely fast, about 1 hour before time, as the train reached 1 hour in
advance. CM had arrived at 8.30, left station at 9.00 a.m., came back at 3.45 & left around
4.30 pm [delayed by a representation from UNICEF truck drivers & assistants]. On the way
from station to airfield, a young chap in goggles & colourful bush-shirt took a lift in my jeep.
I found out to my consternation—after I had given him the rear seat and thought it polite to
introduce myself—that he was Bhaskar Ghosh, Jt. Secy. to CM [1960 batch]! He, however,
didn’t mind in the least & was extremely informal and friendly.
The plane crew (without hostess) had been accommodated in the Circuit House. Their bill is
to be paid by their company [chartered plane]. Instructions had been left at Tourist Lodge not
to issue more than one bottle of beer per head!!
Between 10.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. I also took training in the Revenue Munshikhana from the HC
Sri Jamini Nath Chaki.
Initially, the Revenue Peshkar (RP) dealt with collection of arrears of revenue from
defaulting zamindars by sale of lands under the Sunset law. Nowadays this is defunct and RP
is concerned with civil suits (in local civil courts) and civil rules (H.C/S.C).
To obtain arrears in revenue, Govt. can file civil suit; but this takes time. Hence under Public
Demands Recovery Act 1913, a Certificate is issued in respect of arrears in Public Demands,
as per schedule in the Certificate Manual. Power to issue these are vested in SLROs, ROs,
JLROs by Commissioner, though the Collector is supposed to be the only Certificate Officer
(CO). Appeals against Certs. are also made to the Collector.
The Govt. Pleader (GP) is the RP’s legal advisor with a panel of 3 lawyers to help him, just
as the JP has the Public Prosecutor [in Malda, GP & PP are the same person]. When appeal
against, say, vesting of lands in Govt. are made this, panel represents the Govt. If the Court
awards costs to the Govt., the GP has to recover this through filing execution suits & other
legal means.
GP gets Rs. 100/- per month as Retainer’s Fee, and when a complaint is filed in court by the
public, his job is to produce a written statement in reply, free of charge. Or he may allot the
job to one of the panel members. Often a panel member may not agree with GP’s written
statement (w.s.), in which case a further w.s. by that member has to be filed in court.