There are 3 Sub-Divisions/ Tehsils in District Ferozepur.
- Ferozepur
- Zira
- Guru HarSahai
Punjab State has been divided into 5 Divisions: Faridkot, Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Patiala, Roopnagar and each division is headed by the Commissioner. Divisions comprised of Districts, which are headed by the Deputy Commissioners, who also exercises the powers of Collector and Registrar under Indian Registration and Stamp Acts. The District Ferozepur comes under Ferozepur Division.
Districts are divided into Sub-Divisions/Tehsils , Sub-Tehsils, Blocks. Sub Divisions are headed by the Sub Divisional Magistrates and Tehsils are headed by Tehsildars and Sub-Tehsils are headed by Naib Tehsildars.
In Punjab, we can say that there is no difference between a tehsil and a sub-division. Every tehsil of Punjab is also a sub-division and vice versa. They share the same boundary. But this is not the case for all states of India. The tehsils and sub-divisions are different in some states of India.
In general, districts are divided into Sub-Divisions for the civil administration purpose. A Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) is the officer in-charge of a sub-division and is generally selected from the State Civil Services cadre. In most of the states, the sub-divisions are further divided into Tehsils or Talukas for the purpose of land records and revenue. The revenue officer, who is in-charge of a tehsil is called as “Tehsildar”.
Role of Sub Divisional Officers (Civil)
The duties of the Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) within his Sub Division are almost similar to those of the Deputy Commissioner within his district. In all matters of administration , he has to be the Deputy Commissioner’s principal agent.
He is also in-charge of various development activities going on in the Sub Division and is also responsible for co-ordinating the work of various departments. For that he has to tour the area to keep a watch on the development activities, the revenue administration as also the law & Order situation in his Sub Division. Besides this he has to look after the grievances of the public and to attend to the problems arising out of the natural calamities. He supervises the work of Revenue agency in the Sub Division.
There is no denying the fact that the job of a Sub Divisional Officer (civil) is independent in character to some extent. He is primarily responsible for everything that happens within his jurisdiction and must accordingly take his decisions to a large extent, independently.
Sub Divisional Officer (civil) is conferred with various powers under the land revenue and tenancy acts.
He also acts as Assistant Collector under the Punjab Land Revenue Act and Punjab Tenancy Act. He is also the appellate authority in cases decided by his subordinate revenue officers.
The Executive Magistrate placed by the State Government as in-charge of the Sub Division is termed as the Sub Divisional Magistrate Under section 20(4) Cr.p.c.and under section 23 Cr.P.C. the Sub divisional Officer like other Executive Magistrates of the District is subordinate to the District Magistrate and is responsible for the maintenance of law and order within the limits of his local jurisdiction. He enjoys very wide powers under section 107/151,109,110,133,144,and 145 Cr.P.C. etc. He also hears court cases under these sections.
Role of Tehsildar/ Naib Tehsildar
Tehsildars are appointed by the Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Naib Tehsildar by the Commissioner of the Division. Their duties within Tehsil /Sub Tehsil are almost similar and manifold (except that partition cases are decided by Tehsildar). They enjoy the powers of Executive Magistrate, Assistant Collector and Sub Registrar/Joint Sub Registrar. Although there has been a recent move to appoint full fledged Sub-registrar for some of the larger Tehsils. The Revenue duties of Tehsildar are important. He is the Incharge of tehsil Revenue Agency and is responsible for proper preparation and maintenance of tehsil Revenue Record and Revenue Accounts. He is also responsible for recovery of government dues under the various Acts. He is supposed to have proper control over the working of Patwaris and Kanungos and for this purpose the Tehsildar and Naib Tehsildars make inspection of patwaris and kanungos working under them.
Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildar in fact are called Revenue officers holding separate circles and it is provided in para 242 of land Administration Manual that such allotted circle should be changed every year on October first, so that the responsibility of the Tehsildar for the whole of his charge may not be impaired. In Tehsil and Sub Tehsil, as and when Treasury Officers are not posted, then the Tehsildar and Naib Tehsildar work as Treasury Officer in addition to their own duties. Tehsildar also registers the marriages solemnized.
Besides enjoying powers under a few other land laws, they also attest uncontested mutations. Tehsildar is further empowered to hear partition cases and to make allotment/transfer and auction of evacuee properties, land under the Displaced Person (Compensation & Rehabilitation) Act,1954 and Punjab Package Deal properties (Disposal Act 1976) as Managing Officer and Tehsildar Sales respectively .