316 



services of really influential men for these posts under 

 arrangements similar to those contemplated for the appoint- 

 ment of village munsifs in the Village Courts' Act. This 

 object will, to a considerable extent, be secured if the 

 appointments are made on the recommendation of Taluk 

 Boards, or union pauchayets constituted under the Local 

 Boards' Act. The village magistrates selected should receive 

 a commission under the seal of the Governor in Council in 

 view to enhancing the importance of the oflBce in the eyes 

 of the general public and making it one to be sought after 

 by th^ more respectable class of land-holders. For the 

 disposal of petty nuisance cases benches of magistrates have 

 been constituted in all large towns under the Criminal 

 Procedure Code, and this is a step in the right direction, and 

 capable of considerable extension. The bulk of the work of 

 the mofussil magistracy is, however, done by Sub- Magis- 

 trates paid Rs. 100 and Rs. 120, who generally exercise 

 second class powers, and are empowered to pass sentences of 

 6 months' rigorous imprisonment and of fine to the extent 

 of Rs. 200 . Till recently they were paid such low salaries 

 as Rs. 60 and Rs. 70 and the recent enhancement of pay to 

 Rs. 100 and Rs. 120 is so far an improvement. Nevertheless, 

 even the enhanced pay is inadequate considering the enormous 

 powers and responsibilities of the magisti-ates. Moreover, 

 Tahsildars who are paid higher salaries have recently been 

 relieved of all magisterial work and the whole of the work 

 done by the subordinate magistracy has now devolved on 

 Deputy Tahsildars. It is, of course, out of the question 

 enhancing the salaries of the latter class of officers still 

 further, and the only feasible course for improving the 

 administration of criminal justice appears to be to constitute 

 benches of Magistrates under the presidency of Tahsildars 

 for the disposal summarily of all offences specified in section 

 261 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The graver cases 

 should be tried by the District courts already referred to. 

 It is not desirable to deprive Tahsildars altogether of all 

 magisterial powers, more especially as in case of emergencies, 

 such as imminent danger of a breach of the peace, their 

 influence will have to be availed of for the purpose of pre- 

 serving or restoring order ; and accordingly the Government 

 has withdrawn from them only the power of entertaining com- 

 plaints and of committing cases to the Sessions courts for 

 trial ; they retain the preventive powers under Part IV of the 

 Code of Criminal Procedure for the dispersion of unlawful 

 assemblies, &c. Tahsildars might arrange to preside over 



