APPOINTMENT AND POWERS OF REVENUE OFFICERS

Appointment

[17][7.      Classes of Revenue Officers.– There shall be the following classes of Revenue Officers:-

      (a)  Board of Revenue;

      (b)  Commissioner;

      (c)  Collector;

      (d) Assistant Commissioner;

      (e)  Assistant Collector of the first grade; and

      (f)  Assistant Collector of the second grade.]

[18][8.      Appointment of Commissioners and Collectors.– The Government shall appoint a Commissioner of a Division and a Collector of a District.]

[19][9.      Additional Commissioners and Additional Collectors.– (1) The Government may appoint an Additional Commissioner of a Division, who shall, subject to the general control of the Commissioner, exercise any of the powers and discharge any of the duties conferred or imposed on the Commissioner.

      (2)  The Government may appoint an Additional Collector of a District, who shall, subject to the general control of the Collector, exercise any of the powers and discharge any of the duties conferred or imposed on the Collector.]

[20][10. Assistant Commissioners and Assistant Collectors.– (1) The Government may appoint in a District as many Assistant Commissioners and Assistant Collectors of the first and second grade as it may deem expedient.

      (2)  The Government may place the revenue administration of a Sub-Division in the charge of an Assistant Commissioner and confer any of the powers of the Collector on such officer under sub-section (1) of section 16.

      (3)  The Government may confer any of the powers of the Collector on an Assistant Collector of the first grade under sub-section (1) of section 16.

      (4)  In case any of the powers of a Collector are conferred on an Assistant Commissioner or an Assistant Collector, he shall exercise such powers subject to the control of the Collector of the District.]

[21][11. Tehsildars.– (1) The chief officer entrusted with the local revenue administration of a Tehsil shall be called the Tehsildar.

      (2)  A Tehsildar shall exercise such powers and discharge such duties of any Assistant Collector as may be conferred by or under this Act.]

12.    Certain appointments to be notified.– The appointment of all officers under this Chapter shall be by notification.

Administrative Control

13.   Superintendence and control of Revenue Officers.– (1) The Board of Revenue shall be subject to the control of Government.

      (2)  The general superintendence and control over all other Revenue Officers shall be vested in, and all such Officers shall be subordinate to, the Board of Revenue.

      [22][(3) Subject to the general control of the Board of Revenue, a Commissioner shall control all other Revenue Officers in the Division.

      (4)  Subject to the general control of the Board of Revenue and the Commissioner, the Collector of the District shall exercise control over the Revenue Officers in the District.]

14.   Power to distribute business and withdraw and transfer cases.– (1) The Board of Revenue may, by written order distribute, in such manner as may be deemed fit, any business cognizable by any Revenue Officer under its control, and by like order, withdraw any case pending before any such Officer.

      (2)  The powers exercisable by the Board of Revenue under sub-section (1) may, by like order and in like manner be exercised by [23][a Commissioner] or Collector in respect of any business cognizable by, or any case pending before, other Revenue Officers under their respective control.

      (3)  Where a case is withdrawn by the Board of Revenue under sub-section (1) the Board may dispose of it itself, or, by written order, refer it for disposal to any Revenue Officer; and where a case is withdrawn by [24][a Commissioner] or Collector under sub-section (2) [25][the Commissioner] or Collector, as the case may be, may dispose of it himself, or by like order, refer it to any other Revenue Officer under his control.

      (4)  No order under this section shall empower any Revenue Officer to exercise any powers or deal with any business which he would not be competent to exercise or deal with within the local limits of his own jurisdiction.

15. Combination of offices.– It shall be lawful for Government to appoint one and the same person, being otherwise competent according to law, to any two or more of the offices provided for in this Chapter.

Powers

16. Conferment of powers of Revenue Officers.– (1) Government may, by notification, confer on any person all or any of the powers of [26][a Commissioner] or Collector under this Act, and may, in like manner, withdraw such powers.

      (2)  The Board of Revenue may, by notification, confer on any person all or any of the powers of an Assistant Collector under this Act, and may, in like manner, withdraw such powers.

      (3)  A person on whom powers are conferred under this section shall exercise those powers within such local limits and in such classes of cases as Government or the Board of Revenue, as the case may be, may direct and, except as otherwise so directed, such person shall, for all purposes connected with the exercise thereof, be deemed to be the [27][Commissioner], Collector or Assistant Collector, as the case may be.

17. Functions of Revenue Officers.– Except where the class of Revenue Officers by whom any function is to be performed is specified in this Act, the Board of Revenue may, by notification, determine the functions to be performed under this Act by any class of Revenue Officers.

18. Retention of powers by Revenue Officers on transfer.– When a Revenue Officer of any class who has, under the provisions of this Act, any powers to be exercised in any local area, is transferred from that local area to another as a Revenue Officer of the same or a higher class, he shall continue to exercise those powers in that other local area unless Government or the Board of Revenue, as the case may be, otherwise directs or has directed.