Deputy Commissioner (India)

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The Deputy Commissioner (DC) or District Magistrate (DM) or District Collector is the head of the revenue administration of an Indian district. The DC is required to be an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who is in charge of governmental assets in his district of jurisdiction. The DC is responsible for collecting revenue within the district as it pertains to various Governmental enactments such as Stamp and Registration Act, Land Reforms Act, Irrigation Act, Excide Act and Public Health Act. When executing duties with regards to revenue collection, the DC can exercise quasi-judicial functions.

The responsibility of General Administration of the District lies with the Deputy Commissioner. He is the Executive Head and has three-fold roles as (i) Deputy Commissioner, (ii) District Collector, and (iii) District Magistrate.

He is assisted by the following officers for carrying out day-to-day work in various fields:

Additional Deputy Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner (General)
Assistant Commissioner (Grievances)
Executive Magistrate
District Revenue Officer
District Transport Officer
District Development and Panchayat Officer
Civil Defence Officer
Urban Ceiling Officer

The Deputy Commissioner is the Chief Revenue Officer as District Collector and is responsible for collection of Revenue and other Govt. dues recoverable as arrears of Land Revenue. He deals with the Natural Calamities like drought, unseasonal rains, hailstorms, floods and fire.

Under the Registration Act the District Collector exercise the Powers of Registrar of the District and he controls and supervises the work of Registration of deeds. He also function as Marriage Officer under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. Further under the Cinematograph Act, the District Magistrate is the Licencing Authority in his jurisdiction. The administration of the Police in a district is vested in the District Superintendent, but under the General direction of the District Magistrate as per provisions of section 4 of the Indian Police Act, 1861.

District Magistrate is thus responsible for the maintenance of law and order within the limit of his jurisdiction. He is conferred with very wide powers by the law, which if used prudently can be very effective in maintaining peace and tranquility. The police force is mainly an instrument provided by Law for the District Magistrate. He can impose restriction on the movement of unlawful assembly under Section 144 Cr.P.C. and can also impose curfew keeping in view the situation.

He is authorised to inspect the Offices/Courts of Sub Divisional Officers (Civil), Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars, Treasuries, Sub Treasuries, Jails, Hospitals, Dispenseries, Schools, Blocks, Police Stations, Second Class Local Bodies, Improvement Trusts and all other offices of the state Government, the A.C.Rs of whose Heads of offices he is required to write. In this way, he has effective control over the Administration.

The Deputy Commissioner holds courts and hears appeals under the following Acts against the order of Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), passed as Assistant Collector Ist Grade and Sales Commissioner and Settlement Commissioner:

Under the Land Revenue Act, 1887.
Under the Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887.
Displaced Persons (Compensation & Rehabilitation) Act, 1954.
Punjab Package Deal Properties (Disposal) Act, 1976.
Urban Land (Ceiling & Regulations) Act, 1976.

Special Case: Rule 1.15 of the Punjab Police Rules, 1934, also provides the powers of District Magistrate:

"The District Magistrate is the head of the Criminal Administration of the District and the Police force is the instrument provided by Government to enable him to enforce his authority and fulfil his responsibility for the maintenance of Law & Order. The police force in a District is, therefore, placed by Law under the General control and direction of the District Magistrate, who is responsible that it carries out its duties in such a manner that effective protection is afforded to the public and against lawlessness and disorder."