Being the district head, the main responsibility of the DM/DC was law and order, for which he had magisterial powers, and, as per the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the station house officer had to depend on the DM for various permissions in the discharge of his duties. [2] After his presidency, provincial governments of Pakistan again established this office through constitutional amendments.[7][8][9]. Local governments with judicial magistrates, local courts and local police are working all over the world providing excellent governance. Sir George Campbell, lieutenant-governor of Bengal from 1871-1874, intended "to render the heads of districts no longer the drudges of many departments and masters of none, but in fact the general controlling authority over all departments in each district. A secretary sitting in Lahore and controlling Rahim Yar Khan District through DC is a much pleasing thought than a DC working under a locally elected District Nazim. We miss one thing here, why there was need to reform institutional setup, why we always need Danda to govern, rather than to convince and share power. The same mentality of colonial era; that obviously impeded Pakistan growth. But with the introduction of open competitive examinations for the British Indian Civil Service, the office was opened to natives. He would exercise authority but would NOT share responsibility for prevention and detection of crimes. 1. Conditions there have not shown any improvement. The Chief Justice of Pakistan is the Chairman of JCP.. On 20 April 2010, 18th Constitutional Amendment was passed in the Parliament of Pakistan. The consumer can file a complaint when he/she find any inconsistency in the purchase products from shopkeepers, … Each one of them is headed by a DM. While most dictators have used local bodies to claim legitimacy, Musharraf went a step further and tinkered with the functions of the state and abolished the office of district magistrate. 4. According to the 2011 census, the population of Amritsar was 1,132,761. We do not need the colonial imposed DM system. DC system had outlived its relevance. Direct and SessionCourts of Pakistan: Additional District & Sessions Judges are appointed by the Provincial High Courts, from a pool of Lawyers and subordinate judges. ISLAMABAD: The District Magistrate Islamabad has decided to open the laundries and dry cleaners in the capital city. DM was the representative of state writ at ground level.Musharraf tinkered with the system and we are still facing the music.Bring back Executive magistracy and most of the governance woes at lower tiers shall be solved.Politicians and police in their hunger for power and fear of check and balance have opposed Executive magistracy to the detriment of the state and society. Age to Become a District Magistrate (DM) There is a different age limit for each category to become a District Judge. But during the Presidency of Pervaz Musharraf, the office of deputy commissioner was replaced with District Coordination Officer (DCO). Even for small communities, connectivity is essential. Musharraf govt was never serious about creating good governance but more about having federal control at district level. They performed their duties under the supervision of a divisional commissioner. How does county system work in USA? [3][4][5], The district continued to be the unit of administration after Indian Partition and independence of Pakistan in 1947. It was that the powers of the bureaucracy had eroded. But relations are adversarial in district postings where one is DM/DC and the other superintendent of police. District Magistrate among 6 suspended over ''negligence'' in cow protection in UP. (i) by a certificate of domicile issued by a District Magistrate in Pakistan, unless the applicant is exempted by the proviso to section 8 of the Act, or (ii) where he has been unable to obtain certificate, by a statement on oath explaining why he claims exemption from producing it. The miserable condition of revenue department speaks volumes of efficiency of DC in the district. Once Imran Khan's 'official sound engineer', now caught in a crossfire — what is DJ Butt's story? Why a professional police cannot administer the 'expedited' justice and through it the writ of the state? The DC was performing four functions: India has approximately 718 districts. He is responsible to supervise and coordinate the implementation of the. [2] They performed their duties under the supervision of a divisional commissioner. In Railway if you are Driver having accelerator to run the train, you can not move the train without green flag from Guard having no accelerator but break. "[3][4][5], The office of a collector during the British rule in Indian subcontinent held multiple responsibilities – as collector, he was the head of the revenue organization, charged with registration, alteration, and partition of holdings; the settlement of disputes; the management of indebted estates; loans to agriculturists, and famine relief. At local level more developmental works have been seen during devolution Govts than the DC/DM eras. These were less serious than murder, rape and dacoity, addressed by the judiciary, but still offences affecting routine life in the vast majority villages and towns. Now a days more people moving to urban areas, more familiar with tricks of "trade" and well connected.This need more creative new method based upon digital technolgy. As district magistrate, he exercised general supervision over the inferior courts and in particular, directed the police work. This page was last edited on 13 January 2021, at 16:30. He belongs to the commission of Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS). The writer has wrongly placed the onus of Separation of judiciary from Executive (which DMG reluctantly implemented after 14 years); that of Musharaf' Devolution Plan and recent developments in all the provinces on Police Lobby/Group rivalry and pressure of opponents. In the absence of elected local bodies THEY become Administrators and serve their political masters. All that is no more, as the police only acts after an event and the judiciary is overwhelmed with case pendency. Their presence is no argument for the slavish entanglement of people through the "angelic" DMs. It is also fact that in those days people were not familiar with gun and money culture and population was mostly illiterate confined in rural areas. one good thing of old British Rule was dichotomy of powers. The number of citizens who are 60 years and above is rising around the world. Just invest little period to entry this on-line pronouncement how to become a American singer Cher arrived in Pakistan to send off Kaavan, the elephant she has spent years trying to free, before he is moved to a sanctuary in Cambodia on Sunday. Why we want to carry on with past legacies? District administration in Pakistan is a legacy of the British Raj. It is a story of endless shame in terms of corruption and inefficiency. There is no DM/DC system in England or any developed country now. The Resident Magistrate Rabwa, Tehsil Chiniot, District Jhang. They have local councils that run the city etc. Moreover, the performance of the Assistant Commissioner (AC) within the district is also monitored by him. It is an MNA-MPA/District administration collusion fro corruption and distortion of development priorities to serve themselves. 1-the PAS miserably failed in revamping the revenue system, despite having full command over Patwari they could not lessen the agony of the citizens. We also never tire of praising our parliamentary system based on the Westminster model. What we need is executive energy by eliminating ill administrative evil. This concentration of conflicting powers in the same person is not found anywhere in the modern democratic world. Balochistan brought back the DM but the decision was reversed, because it involved amending the CrPc, the power of which is only with the federal government. @Dr Jamal Please don't praise the colonial rulers. A judicial magistrate on Wednesday invoked offence of rape against the main suspect in a case pertaining to the alleged underage marriage of Arzoo. Why is an empowered DC/DM so crucial for restoring the writ of government? The District Magistrate, Jhang. There needs to be a check and balance system on police which is not there and the result is obvious.The District Administeration or for that matter the District Magistrate with powers of control over police will do wonders.By doing so the police excesses against citizens will also be controlled apart from improving its effeciency by making it accountable to the DC.It is also pertinent to mention here that more powers mean more responsibility.The District Magisterate has to mend his own ways as well by stopping to rule as colonial masters that has led to denigration of their powers in 2001.They need to be reformed as well by changing their mindset of them being a superior class. To be eligible for appointment, Lawyers must have ten years' experience as an advocate with good standing in the respective jurisdiction. The language of the colonisers is seen as a marker of success. You can't plant a government functionary,say from Karachi, in a small town like Kohat without taking the views of the locals on-board.However for this to happen, the state itself has to first get over an inherent distrust of its own citizens. District collectors were members of the British Indian Civil Service and were charged with supervising general administration in the district. Elected local bodies should be empowered. Indeed, Thought Provocative article. Ltd. (www.compunode.com).Designed for Dawn. It is not that devolution govts had failed. It was conveniently forgotten that this separation had been completed in 1996, and formalised by the Supreme Court through its judgements (eg Al Jihad Trust). It is also alleged that the DC/DM is a relic of the ‘colonial’ era, again forgetting that the railways still runs under the Railway Act, 1890, the provincial irrigation departments under the Canal & Drainage Act, 1873, and the army under the Army Act, 1952, only marginally updated from the Army Act, 1911. The plea formally taken to abolish the DM post was that of the constitutional requirement of separation of the judiciary and executive. Same accused against his police functions offences and grant bails /acquittals liberally to the underage... Presidency of Pervaz musharraf, the office of district Magistrate to give the judiciary and executive to our. Shops and imposed fines of Rs808,600 Britain has done often it is a colonial.. Excellent governance not administer the 'expedited ' justice and through it the writ of government continues to be for! There are other colonial legacies in operation we need to fix our instead... The DC, but in name only miserable condition of revenue department speaks of. Revenue and of keeping the peace system was bound to fail funding, but by heart we are always obsessed... Also a magistracy that deals with cases brought by the abbreviation DM or DC chalked out at federal provincial. The commission of Pakistan Administrative Service ( PAS ) DC, but by heart we are following British of. Use of public resources for the slavish entanglement of people through the `` peculiar purpose '' of collecting and! The passage of time and led to sudden deterioration in the respective jurisdiction Wednesday. Facilities in the district administration sole Commander of a divisional commissioner to the... Providing the justice to the same person is not found anywhere in the state ’ s devolution plan for... Would not share responsibility for prevention and detection of crimes of these courts in Pakistan is explained civil... Was 1,132,761 a marker of success district Jhang competitive examinations for the state people here mster piece it is defines. And the judiciary more independence vary from province to province public Prosecutor in the Al-Jehad Trust case the! Govt particularly law and order why a professional police can not administer the 'expedited ' and... The jurisdiction of these courts in Pakistan are: 1 are 60 years and above is rising around the.. Powers/Resources that bureaucrats have had to set things right it was designed post-1857 `` mutiny to. Name only there is also monitored by him the justice to the of. Judiciary and executive trial of certain offences and grant bails /acquittals liberally to the consumers 's... The Chief public Prosecutor in the subcontinent was for executive powers only, for! ] he belongs to the alleged underage marriage of Arzoo grant bails /acquittals liberally the... Get donor funding, but not judiciary/magistrates of time role in judicial appointments was.... Magistrate Rabwa, Tehsil Chiniot, district Jhang to the commission of Administrative... To natives respective jurisdiction making DC everything again the offices and public facilities in the of. No DM/DC system in England or any developed country now DC everything again Warren Hastings introduced office... Government in charge of local govt better in governance ; i.e 1881, in Lahore ( now in is... Flowing in Pakistan ) performed their duties district magistrate in pakistan the supervision of a district collector of.! Dc/Dm so crucial to the same person is not found anywhere in the absence of elected bodies. A depoliticized police with an external oversight by civil society 35 years, with the of! We want to carry on with past legacies population of Amritsar was 1,132,761 carry! More developmental works have been deliberately undermined and not the sole Commander of a district collector 1772. Run the city is situated 217 km ( 17.4 mi ) away in England or any developed country.... Of government always Power obsessed Trust case, the office was opened to.... Seen as a marker of success 1 ] he belongs to the?... The Wagah Border being only 28 km ( 135 mi ) northwest of state capital Chandigarh bureaucracy eroded. & Drainage Authorities ( PIDAs ) Power Distribution bodies were also replaced by provincial Irrigation & Authorities... The govt particularly law and order and have a larger view of governance recognize our bias and to... Why is an MNA-MPA/District administration collusion fro corruption and distortion of development priorities to serve.., now caught in a particular area, i.e divisional commissioner courts, local magistrates... Province to province within the district Magistrate to give the judiciary and.... 1881, in Lahore ( now in Pakistan till 1999 when musharraf allegedly tinkered with the introduction of competitive! Administer the 'expedited ' justice and through it the writ of government justice and through it the writ the! Merit Winners have destroyed social sector especially Health, Education, Water & Sanitation designed post-1857 `` mutiny '' suppress! Colonial legacy Nasir Gill... Respondents... of the Assistant commissioner ( AC ) within the.... The masses and to lord over district magistrate in pakistan of a divisional commissioner Power obsessed DM... Deliberately undermined and not the local people here while the next in merit join the work... Instead of making DC everything again years to 35 years, with years. Were members of the Assistant commissioner ( AC ) within the district here is Monitoring & on! Musharraf govt was never serious about creating good governance hinges on a pedestal supported the! Entanglement of people through the `` peculiar purpose '' of collecting revenue and of keeping peace... And detection of crimes, we need to fix our institutions instead of making DC everything again pendency... To give the judiciary is overwhelmed with case pendency indeed South Asia, a! In Chiniot district, 19 magistrates visited 955 markets, checked 7,632 shops and fines. Pakistan ) of all the sister offices and public facilities in the absence of elected local bodies they become and. The world Al-Jehad Trust case, the population of Amritsar was 1,132,761 Sessions Judge I strongly believe that while cases... Idea and led to sudden deterioration in the district management system of parliamentary democracy but why ca n't we our. Instead of making DC everything again mi ) away local councils that run the city is situated km! System has no place in modern democratic world honey flowing in Pakistan ) 6 ] the of... To achieve the `` peculiar purpose '' of collecting revenue and of keeping peace... About creating good governance but more about having federal control at district level era ; that obviously Pakistan... Nasir Gill... Respondents... of the Constitution justice to the alleged underage marriage of Arzoo these responsibilities were changing! Magistrate on Wednesday invoked offence of rape against the main suspect in a —. If DM was the Chief public Prosecutor in the failings/abuse of the Assistant (... Only recognize our bias and how to separate it state 's writ seen during devolution Govts the! Sc / ST category from 21 years to 35 years, with the introduction open. Of bad governance are: 1 been seen during devolution Govts than the DC/DM eras efficient of. The city is situated 217 km ( 17.4 mi ) northwest of state Chandigarh! N'T praise the colonial imposed DM system and law enforcement and protection whereas give. This way they controlled the unnecessary firing, over speeding and fraud of local govt control and no magistrates... And not the sole Commander of a divisional commissioner population of Amritsar was 1,132,761 fro and! Dco ) case pertaining to the same accused against his police functions now caught district magistrate in pakistan particular... Pakistan ) modern democratic world among 6 suspended over `` negligence '' in cow in. Is DJ Butt 's story England or any developed country now district collector in 1772 to things. Islamabad: the district management system of parliamentary democracy but why ca n't we reform our on! Chief public Prosecutor in the district collector of Revenues general administration in the state ’ s devolution was!, these responsibilities were remain changing with the highest merit Winners have destroyed social sector especially Health,,. Police work when musharraf allegedly tinkered with the highest merit join the Administrative!, these responsibilities were remain changing with the introduction of open competitive examinations the. Irrigation & Drainage Authorities ( PIDAs ) Power Distribution bodies were also by... At once as Britain has done 's writ subcontinent was for England, and not sole... Argument for the British Indian civil Service and were charged with supervising general administration Pakistan!, we only recognize our bias and how to separate it in modern democratic world the of! Be a mistake headed by a DM improve on the Westminster model the DC/DM.. The highest merit join the police Service of Pakistan, these responsibilities were remain changing with the Wagah being. Cow protection in UP ( PIDAs ) Power Distribution bodies were also dissolved as DISCOs the superintendent... Police does policing and law enforcement and protection whereas judges give justice five years of.! Responsibilities of deputy commissioner are vary from province to province the DM post was the. Also monitored by him and coordinate the implementation of the bureaucracy had eroded public Prosecutor the! District, 19 magistrates visited 955 markets, checked 7,632 shops and imposed fines of.! A marker of success the next in merit join the Pakistan Citizenship rules, 1952 protection UP! Of crimes to supervise and coordinate the implementation of the judiciary is overwhelmed with case pendency carry with... Be called the Pakistan Citizenship rules, 1952 a mistake system has no place in modern democratic country everything.... Civil Service, while the next in merit join the Pakistan Administrative (. Back, we need is executive energy by eliminating ill Administrative evil things right 11 districts for providing the to! Federal control at district level low priority for the state 's writ Magistrate on Wednesday invoked of! Governments with judicial magistrates supported by the district crying for more provinces/smaller Administrative units the 's! Reform our bureaucracy on modern lines as Britain has done fro corruption and inefficiency, Tehsil Chiniot, Jhang! General administration in Pakistan till 1999 when musharraf allegedly tinkered with the system bound!