Education and Recreational and Medical Facilities
There are two teachers
to teach the prisoners inside the jail . One teacher is paid by the Government
and other is paid by the District Crime Prevention Society, Firozpur.
Illiterate prisoners are given lessons in the jail to enable them to write
their names, send letters home and read those received by them. The are occasionally examined by the Block Education Officer and are issued
literacy certificates. Lectures on moral, social and religious subjects are
also arranged for the prisoners. There
is a library in the jail and books are issued to them, so that they may read them in their spare time. The
District Public Relations Officer, Firozpur supplies from time to time
instructional and informative pamphlets and other material for the benefit of
the prisoners.
The jail has a 16-mm projector and
the prisoners are shown full-length pictures and news-reels every month. The
jails has also a dramatic club. After one or two months, dramas are staged.
Cinema shows are also arranged by the District Public Relations Officer,
Firozpur. There is also provision for games, such as kabaddi and volley-ball
for the prisoners. Matches are held off
and on in the jail. The Welfare Officer of
the jail has been entrusted with
the job of arranging cultural and recreational programmes for the
prisoners inside the jail.
There are two whole-time medical
officers and two dispensers in the jail to look after the health of the
prisoners. The prisoners, suffering from minor ailments, are treated as outdoor
patients. Cases of serious nature are sent to the Civil Hospital for major
surgical operations, when necessary. The population o the prison is regularly
vaccinated against small-pox.
Centeen
A canteen was
started in the jail in 1961 on
co-operative basis, with the funds subscribed by the prioress. It meets the
daily needs of the prisoners, such as sugar, biris, biscuits and articles of
toilet. Articles are purchased directly from the dealers and are issued to the
prisoners on a nominal profits. The prisoners are issued coupons of the value
of the amount they deposit with the
jail authorities and they can get their daily requirements from the canteen at
fixed hours. This system is very useful to the prisoners and it has done away
with the profit which formerly went to
the contractor.
Panchayat
System
In order to foster a sense of
responsibility among the prisoners and give them scope for initiative, the
panchayat system has been introduced into the Central Jail. the prisoners elect
through votes the members of the panchayat and the members of the panchayat
elect their sarpanch. The members inspect food articles, draw ration from the
stores and supervise its cooking. They also manage the sanitation of the jail.
Besides, they bring the difficulties
and grievances of the prisoners to the notice of jail authorities. This system has created a sense of
responsibility and trust among the prisoners, and has been of great value in
maintaining discipline.
Jail
Industries
The industries carried on in the
Central Jail, Firozpur, are carpentry, the making of nivar, tape, ban, hemp,
bamboo chicks, textiles, durries , druggets, oil, oil-cakes, tags and laces
training in poultry, farming and tailoring. The average number of prisoners
employed in these industries, total production and the gross profit during 1974
to 1980 are given in the following table :
Year Daily average of Production Gross
Profit
prisoners (Rs) (Rs)
working in
the
factory
1974
343.98 5,52,924 55,292
1975
381.57 6,23,849
62,385
1976
509.39 5,35,665
53,567
1977
512.92 6,39,691
63,969
1978 349.93
6,15,324 61,532
1979
261.96 6,11,536 61,153
1980 237.13 10,62,825 1,06,222
(Source
: Superintendent, Centre Jail, Firozpur)
Official and Non-Official
Visitors
The occasional visits by the officials and non-officials to the jail
are very beneficial to the jail administration and also to the prisoners. They
see the prisoners and listen to their request and complaints. They also see
whether all the rules and regulations are being observed by the jail
authorities. This is a useful institution as it provides the prisoners with opportunities to approach
the public to let them know what is happening behind the walls of the jails.
Sub-Jail, Fazilka :- Formerly, a judicial lock-up, managed by the Police
Department, was converted into a sub-jail with effect from 12 December 1957.
Situated on the Firozpur-Fazilka road, near the local courts, it is under the
control of the Subdivisional Magistrate, who is its part-time Superintendent.
he is assisted by the supervisory staff comprising an assistant superintendent,
a head warder and 10 warders.
The total admissions to the sub-jail during 1976 to 1980 were 7,824.
The average daily population was 47.33
and the maximum population on any one day was 172 during 1980. The number of
convicted prisoners, released on
different rounds during 1976 to 1980 was 915.
A radio-set has been provided in the sub-jail for the re-creation of
the prisoners. One daily newspaper is also provided for the prisoners. The
prisoners, who need medical treatment, are sent to the Civil Hospital.
District Crime Prevention
Society, Firozpur :- formed
in 1939, the District Crime Prevention Society, Firozpur, is doing commendable
work for the welfare of the prisoners at the Central Jail, Firozpur. The
prisoners are provided with reading and writing materials, such as copy-books,
pencils, slates, and primers, out of the society’s funds. Cultural and
recreational programmes are arranged for the prisoners inside the jail. A
part-time teacher has also been provided by the Society for prisoners.
District Probation Officer,
Firozpur :- The Probation of
Offenders Act, 1958, same into force in the Firozpur District in 1967, when a
district probation officers was posted here. The District Probation is under the control of the Chief Probation
Officer, Chandigarh, who is under the overall administrative control of the
Inspector-General of Prisoners, Punjab, Chandigarh.
The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, was passed as a reformative
measure for Judicial offenders (below 21 years) and for the first offenders,
irrespective of their ages. To save such offenders from confinement within the walls of the jails, the Act provides
that such offenders be released on bail after entering into a bond with one
surety for an amount considered sufficient and for a period up to three years,
as desired by the court. The Act, however, does not cover such offenders who
have committed offences for which they
can be sentenced to death or life
imprisonment.
Whenever a juvenile or first
offenders is brought before the court with
some charge for which the benefit of probation under the Probation of
Offenders Act, 1958, can be given to the offenders and , as soon as the challan is put up by the police, the court asks for
pre-sentence report from the District
Probation Officer. In return, the District Probation Officer makes direct
esquires without discrimination regarding the offender’s character and antecedents, his social and
environmental conditions, the financial
and other circumstances of his family, the circumstances in which the alleged
offence was committed and any other fact which the court has directed to inquire. Keeping in view the
gravity of the crime and character of the offender, he is released with the
condition to be kept under supervision
are plaeed under the supervision of the District Probation Officer. The latter,
in return, performs multifarious duties
as a friend, philosopher and
guide to all the probationers kept under his supervision. He looks into their personal problems and
tries to solve them. He chalks out proper programmes and tries to improve the
behaviour, attitude towards society, habits, character and morals of the
probationers, so that they do not
revert to crime. He also holds meetings with the probationers in his office and at their residences in order to
watch the progress made by them .
The Probation Officer makes
enquiries about the character and behaviour of the probationers from
respectable persons of the village, such as the sarpanch, members of the panchayats, and lambardars.
The following table shows the number
of prisoners released on probation on various grounds during 1973-74 to 1979-80
:
Year Under Without Social
Supervision
supervision
investigation
reports.
1973-74 89 215 2
1974-75 96 171 1
1975-76 34 853 2
1976-77 75 504 4
1977-78 80 529 6
1978-79 59 426 2
1979-80 101 101 6
(Source : District Probation
Officer, Firozpur)
(a)
Organization of Civil
and Criminal Courts
Before the separation of the executive from the judiciary, the District
Magistrate, in his capacity as head of the District criminal administration,
was overall in charge of the magistrates and the police. Immediately under him there was also an additional
district magistrate who normally exercised Section 30 powers. Besides, there
was one or more magistrates Ist class who disposed of the entire criminal work.
For the disposal of the civil work, there was a separate senior
sub-ordinate judge and a number of subordinate judges who were under the administrative control of the
District and Sessions Judge, Firozpur.
Since the separation of the executive from the judiciary in the State
from 2 October 1964, the administration of both civil and criminal justice in
the District and Sessions Judge, Firozpur. T organization of the judiciary
consists of the District and Sessions Judge and two additional district and
sessions judges at the District headquarters. Under the superintendence of the
District and Sessions Judge, there are tow administrative posts of a chief
judicial magistrate and a senior subordinate judge, who work on the criminal
and the civil side respectively, although both of them exercise civil and
criminal powers. There are four judicial officers at the District headquarters
and they deal with civil
and criminal cases entrusted to them by the Senior Subordinate Judge and
the Chief Judicial Magistrate respectively. Similarly, at the tehsil level, there are judicial officers who
dispose of civil and criminal cases under the supervision and control of the
District and Sessions Judge. The civil
cases are directly instituted in the courts
at the tehsil headquarters, whereas with respect to criminal cases,
separate police stations are allotted to different judicial officers who deal
with the cases of those police-stations.
Civil Justice :- On the civil
side, the administration of Justice in the District is handled by the District
and Sessions Judge, Firozpur, who is assisted by 2 additional district judges,
1 senior subordinate judge and 11 sub-judges-cum-judicial magistrates, (4
posted at Firozpur, 4 at Fazilka, 3 at Zira).
The civil courts try all sorts of cases of civil nature up to the
powers with which each subordinate
Judge of the District judge has been invested. The Senior Subordinate
Judge of the District and the subordinate judges are , sometimes , invested
with additional magisterial powers temporarily.
Additional
District Judge, Firozpur
On the civil
side, the Additional District and Sessions Judge is know as the Additional
District Judge. He hears appeal against the judgements and decrees of subordinate
judges of all classes and hears cases under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and
Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
Senior
Subordinate Judge, Firozpur
The Senior Subordinate Judge has
been invested with the powers of unlimited jurisdiction of civil nature including rent cases, succession
certificates, insolvency cases, guardian cases and appellate work up to a
certain limit suits under the torts and suits under the Indian Contract Act,
1882.
Sub-Judges
First Class
The sub-judges
are subordinate judges. They invested with the powers of unlimited jurisdiction
of civil nature in their areas, including rent cases, succession certificates
and others.
The following
statement shows the number of cases tried by civil courts in the
District from 1976 to 1980 :
Year Pending Instituted
Total Disposed of Balance
at
from the during the
for during the the close of
previous year disposal year the year
1976 2,881 2,726
5,607
2,812
2,795
1977 2,795 2,839 5,634 3,072 2,562
1978 2,562 3,042 5,604 2,892 2,712
1979 2,712 3,036 5,748 3,273 2,475
1980
2,475 3,298
5,773 3,002 2,771
(Source : Senior Subordinate Judge,
Firozpur)
Criminal Justice :- On the criminal side, the administration of justice in
the District is handled by the District & Sessions Judge, Firozpur, who is
assisted by 2 additional district and sessions judges and 11 chief judicial
magistrate (4 posted at Firozpur, 4 at Fazilka and 3 at Zira).
With the separation of the executive
from the judiciary in the State from 2 October 1964, the powers of the District
Magistrate, no the criminal side, are vested in the Chief Judicial Magistrate, who is under the
control of the District and Sessions Judge.
The Chief Judicial
Magistrate and the judicial magistrates deal with all types of cases relating
to crime, except security cases. He is vested with the powers of a judicial
magistrate, Ist class, i.e., with powers to try juvenile offenders, to require delivery of letters, telegrams, etc., to issue
search warrants for documents in the
custody of postal or telegraph authorities, to release persons imprisoned for
failing to give security under Section 106, to order police investigation into
a cognizable offence, to entertain a case without complaints, to transfer cases
to a subordinate magistrate, to report a case to High Court etc.
All judicial magistrates try cases under
the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Punjab Excise Act, 1914; the Essential
Commodities Act, 1955; and other special Acts relating to their police
stations. They have the powers to direct warrants to land-holders, to issue
search warrants for the discovery of persons wrongfully confined , record
statements and confessions during
police investigation, to recover penalty on forfeited bonds, to order the
released convicts to notify the residences, etc. All criminals apprehended by
the police are produced before the judicial magistrate whose jurisdiction the
criminals may have been apprehended or within whose jurisdiction the crime may
have been committed.
After investigation, the police put
the challans in the courts of judicial magistrates who also act as ilaka
magistrates and watch the investigation of criminal cases. The judicial
magistrates have also been vested with the powers of sub-judges with varying
jurisdiction.
With he separation of the executive
from the judiciary, the cases of security for keeping peace and security for
good behaviour, under the Criminal Procedure Code, are tried by the
subdivisonal magistrates, Firozpur, Zira and Fazilka, relating to their
respective subdivisions. They are also called upon to perform executive
functions, in addition to the trial of above types of cases.
The following statement shows the number of criminal cases decided by
the criminal courts in the District during 1973 to 1980 :
Year Cases decided
1973 16,770
1974 12,669
1975 14,152
1976 10,910
Year Cases decided
1977 10,713
1978 13,596
1979 21,384
1980 20,740
( Sources : Chief Judicial Magistrate, Firozpur)
Gram/Panchayat Courts
Under the Punjab Gram Panchayat Act,
1952, certain civil , criminal and revenue powers are vested in the panchayats.
Petty cases of various categories are disposed of by the bodies. This system
has been put into use to decentralize
authority to strengthen the roots of democracy
and lessen the burden of courts.
The entrusting of judicial powers to the
panchayats has enhanced their prestige and added to their status. They
are competent to grant bail to a person against a surety of not exceeding Rs.
500.
The criminal criminal jurisdiction of a gram panchayat is
confined to the trail of offences specified in Schedule 1-A and 1-B of the
Punjab Gram Panchat Act, 1952. The panchayats are also competent to take
cognizance su moto of cases falling
under Sections 160, 228, 277 , 289, 290, 294 and 510 of the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 3 and 4 of the
Punjab Jvenile Smoking Act, 1918 (or any other Act for the time being in
force).
With regard to the civil and revenue
judicial functions, the panchayats are competent to try suits for the recovery
of movable property or the value of such property; suits for money or goods due
on contracts or price thereof; suits for compensation for wrongfully taking or
damaging movable property; and suits mentioned in clauses (j), (k), (l) and 9n)
of Sub-section (3) of Section 77 of the Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887 (or any other
Act for the time being in force). The panchayat, when trying such suits, is deemed to be a civil or a criminal or a revenue courts, as the case
may be.
The following statement shows the
judicial work done by the panachayat in the District during 1973-1974 to
1979-80 :
Judicial work done by panachayat in the Firozpur
District from
1973-1974 to 1979-80
1973-74 to 1979-80
Revenue cases 1973-74
1974-75 1975-76 1976-77
1977-78 1978-79 1979-80
1 Cases pending at the
Beginning of 186 180 122 66 68 44 16
the year
2 Cases instituted 88 52 40 20 11 24 14
3 Cases received by
Transfer 2 2 --- -- --- --- ---
4 Cases transferred from
Panchayats and cases
Returned for presentation
to courts and
Panchayats 2 -- --- --- --- --- ---
5 Cases decided 94 112 96 18 35 52 13
(a) Cases 21 11 21 7 28 26 ---
dismissed
(b) Cases 59 86 68 5 --- --- 10
compounded
(c) Cases 14 15 7 6 7 16 3
decreed
6 Cases pending at the end
of the year 180 122 66 68 44 16 17
Criminal Cases
1 Cases pending at the
Beginning of 183 154 118 118 55 38 34
the year
2 Cases 197 97 85 37 18 19 60
instituted
3 Cases received by
Ttransfer 7 2 5 --- 2 --- ---
4 Cases transferred from
Panchayats for
Presentation to courts
And 2 2 ---- ---- --- 1 ----
Panchayats
5 Cases 231 133 90 100 37 22 77
decided
(a) Cases 37 31 18 3 12 4 ---
dismissed
(b) Cases 181 92 62 76 24 14 65
compounded
(c) Cases 13 10 10 21 1 4 9
convicted
6 Cases pending at the
end of 154 118 18 55 38 34 17
the year
(Source: Director of Rural Development and Panchayats, Punjab.)
Bar
Associations
In order to promote and maintain a higher standard of professional
conduct and to encourage and promote the study of scientific law, bar
associations have been formed at all the district and at subdivisional
headquarter in the State. These associations look after the interests of their members and render a useful service to
the cause of the legal profession. The bar associations endeavor to maintain
the dignity of the profession, besides promoting the best possible relations between the Bench and the
Bar. These also help the courts in the administration of justice and promote a
sense of respect for law and order in the public mind.
The Bar Association, Firozpur, is
one of the oldest associations in the State and is said to have been formed in 1865.
Its present strength is 142. Its members took a prominent share in the
political, social and cultural life of
the District and many of them have occupied high judicial positions.
Bar Association, Zira, was formed in
1930 and its present strength is 42. The Bar Association, Fazilka, was
formed about the year 1930 and its
present strength is 119.
OTHER
DEPARTMENTS
In recent times,
the role of public administration has been increasingly expanding to meet the
exigencies of planning for a welfare State. Before Independence, Revenue, Judiciary and Police were the only
important departments. The activities now undertaken by the Punjab Government
are so diverse that a number of departments, which did not exist or play any significant part in the past, have come
up during the post-Independence period
to give effect to, and keep pace with, the growing tempo of development work
generated by the various nation building activities implemented under each
successive Five-Year-Plan.
The administrative set-up, functions
and activities of the departments, which have not been mentioned elsewhere in
the Gazetteer, are dealt with in the following account :
(a)
Public Works
Department
The activities of this Department may be mainly divided into drainage,
public health, the construction of buildings and roads, and irrigation. The
jurisdiction of the circles or divisions of the Department is not necessarily
confined to one district. It may extend to more than one district. However, the
circles or divisions, having jurisdiction over the Firozpur District, are
described below :
(i)
Superintending
Engineer, Drainage Construction Circle, Firozpur
Opened on 13 November 1967, the Drainage Construction Circle, Firozpur
has under it three divisions, viz. the Mechanical Drainage Construction
Division, Firozpur; the Drainage Construction Division, Firozpur and the
Golewala Drainage Division, Firozpur, each under an executive engineer. Its
jurisdiction also extends to the Ludhiana District and portions of the Bathinda
and Faridkot districts.
The Superintending
Engineer is assisted by 1 circle head draftsman, 2 divisional head draftsmen, 2
draftsmen, 1 circle superintendent, 1 superindentdent grade IV , besides other
ministerial class III and allied class IV staff.
The Circle is entrusted with the construction and maintenance of
surface water drains, seepage drains and flood protection bunds.
Executive Engineer,
Mechanical Drainage Construction Division, Firozpur :- The Division was opened on 8
December 1967. The Executive Engineer is assisted by 4 sub-divisional officers,
24 sectional officers, 1 divisional account, 1 superintendent grade IV, 1 head
draftsman and 1 draftsman, besides other ministerial/technical class III and class IV staff.
The main function of the Division are
to do all the mechanical jobs, including the work to be done by earth-moving
machinery, dewatering for masonry works, etc. in the entire area under the
jurisdiction of the Drainage Construction Circle, Firozpur,.
Executive Engineer, Drainage Construction Division, Firozpur :- Opened on 5 April 1971, the Drainage
Construction Division, Firozpur, is entrusted with the construction of
drainage. The Executive Engineer is assisted by 4 sub-divisional officers, 24
sectional officers, 1 superintendent grade IV, 1 accountant, 1 head draftsman,
2 draftsmen, besides other ministerial/technical class III and class IV staff.
Executive Engineer, Golewala Drainage Division, Firozpur : Established
in 1963, this Division is entrusted with the work of anti-waterlogging and
flood control to save the standing crops and village abadis from devastation. Besides, the schemes
for linking local depressions of villages and towns with the main drains are
being formulated to give relief to the inhabitants of the District from
waterlogging menace and floods.
The executive Engineer is assisted by 4 sub-divisional officer, 21
sectional officers, 1 superintendent grad IV, 1 head draftsman, 1 divisional
accountant, besides other ministerial/technical class III and miscellaneous
class IV staff.
Executive Engineer, P.W.D. , Public Health Division, Firozpur:-
Started in 1956, the Division is under
the administrative control of the Superintending Engineer, Public Health Circle
(North), Jalandhar City. The Executive Engineer is assisted by 4 sub-divisional
officers, 1 head draftsman, 2 draftsman, 17 sectional officers, 2 tracers,
besides other ministerial/technical class III and class IV staff.
The main functions of the Division are to execute and maintain the work
of water-supply schemes and drainage schemes, and sanitary installation works
in the buildings of the State Government. Besides, it has been entrusted with the work of brick-pitching and drainage of model villages. The work of public-health
amenities on behalf of the Central Government, the M.E.S. authorities and other
departments is also executed and maintained as deposit works.
Executive Engineer, P.W.D.
Public Health Division, Abohar :-
Started in 1971, the Division is under the administrative control of the
Superintending Engineer, Public Health (Rural Water Supply Scheme), Muktsar.
The Executive Engineer is assisted by 4 sub-divisional officers, 1 head
draftsmen, 2 draftsmen, 16 sectional officers, 2 tracers, besides other
ministerial/technical class III and class IV staff.
The main functions of the division are to execute and maintain the work
of the water-supply schemes in the villages.
(i)
Superintending Engineer, Firozpur Circle, P.W.D., Buildings
and Roads, Firozpur
Started on 18 May 1968, this Circle has three divisions under it, viz.,
the P.W.D., Provincial Division, Firozpur; the Construction Division P.W.D.,
Buildings and Roads Firozpur and Construction Division P.W.D Building &
Roads, Fazilka, each under an executive engineer.
The Superintending Engineer is under the administrative control of the
Chief Engineer P.W.D. B & R, Punjab, Patiala, He is assisted by 1
superintendent, 1 superintendent grade IV,
1 circle head draftsman, 2 assistant draftsmen, 2 tracers, besides
ministerial/technical class III and miscellaneous class IV staff.
The main functions of this circle are to exercise control over the
construction and maintenance of buildings and roads under its jurisdiction.
Executive Engineer, Provincial Division P.W.D. B
& R, Firozpur
Formed in about 1953, the Division is entrusted with the construction and maintenance of
public buildings and roads in the District.
The Executive Engineer is assisted by 3 sub-divisional officers, 13
sectional officer, 1 superintendent grad IV, 1 divisional accountant, 3
accounts clerks, 1 divisional draftsman, 2 assistant draftsmen, and
ministerial/technical class III and class IV staff.
Executive Engineer,
Construction Division P.W.D. B & R,
Firozpur
Started in September 1973, the Construction, P.W.D., B & R
Firozpur, is entrusted with the construction of buildings and roads. The
Executive Engineer is assisted by 4 sub-divisional officers, 15 sectional
officers, 1 superintendent grad IV., 1 divisional accountant, 1 head draftsman,
2 draftsmen, 2 tracers, besides ministerial/technical class III and class IV
staff..
Executive Engineer, Construction Division P.W.D. B & R, Fazilka
Established
in July, 1973, the Construction Division, P.W.D., B & R, Fazilka, is
entrusted with the construction of buildings and roads. The Executive Engineer
is assisted by 3 sub-divisional officers, 12 sectional officers, 1
superintendent grad IV, 1 divisional accountant, 1 head draftsman, 2 draftsmen,
2 tracers, besides ministerial/technical class III and class IV staff.
(iv) Superintending
Engineering, Firozpur Canal Circle, Firozpur.
Opened
in 1924, this Circle has four divisions under it, viz. the Executive Engineer, Eastern Division,
Firozpur; the Executive Engineer, Harike Division, Firozpur; the Executive
Engineer, Abohar Division, Abohar, and Rajasthan Feeder Division, Firozpur. The
superintending Engineer, Firozpur, is
assisted by 4 executive engineers, 15 sub divisional officers, 2 deputy
collectors, 1 superintendent, 5 head clerks, 21 ziladars, 1 circle head draftsman,
5 divisional head draftsmen, 6 draftsmen, and 60 sectional officers, besides
ministerial staff/technical class III and allied and miscellaneous class IV
staff.
The
main functions of the Circle are the maintenance and rapairs of the Firozpur
and Harike Headworks, the Eastern Canal System, the Firozpur Feeder System, the
Sirhind Feeder, the Rajasthan Feeder and the Abohar Branch, and the preparation
of the demand statement of abiana.
Abohar Branch, and the preparation of the demand statement of abiana.
Executive Engineer, Eastern Division,
Firozpur :- The Division was
established in May 1946. The Executive Engineer is assisted by 4 sub-divisional
officers, 1 superintendent grade IV, 1 account, 1 head draftsman, 1 tracer,
besides ministerial/technical class III and class IV staff.
It is
a Headworks-cum-Revenue Division. The Hussaniwala Head is under its
jurisdiction and all the works connected with it are maintained by the
Sub-Divisional Officer, Headworks Sub-Division. Besides, there are four subdivisions under its administrative
control, two at Firozpur, one each at Jalalabad and Fazilka. Bunds for
protection from floods in the area are also constructed by this Division.
Executive Engineer, Harike Division, Firozupr
:- Started on 17 December 1948, the Harike
Division has in its charge the Harike Head-works, the Sirhind Feeder and the
Firozpur Feeder canals. The Executive Engineer is assisted by 4 sub-divisional
officers, 16 sectional officers, 1 superintendent grade IV, 3 ziladars, 1
accountant, 1 head draftsman, 1 draftsman, besides ministerial and technical
class III and class IV staff.
The
Executive Engineer is assisted by 3 sub-divisional officers, 1 deputy
collector, 11 ziladars, 13 sectional officers, 1 superintendent grade IV, 1
head revenue clerk, 1 divisional accountant, 1 divisional head draftsman, 1
draftsman, besides ministerial and technical class III and class IV staff.
Executive, Rajasthan Feeder
Division, Firozpur :- Established in 1964, the Rajasthan Feeder Division
has in its charge the maintenance of the Rajasthan Feeder, which takes off from
the Harike Headworks located in the Punjab area. The Executive Engineer is
assisted by 4 sub-divisional officer, 16 sectional officers, 1 superintendent
grade IV, 1 accountant, 1 head draftsman, 1 draftsman, besides other
ministerial and technical III and class IV staff.
(v)
Superintending Engineer, Canal-Lining Circle, Firozpur :-Started on 2 June
1980, this circle has tow divisions under it in the Firozpur District, viz. the
Executive Engineer, Canal-lining
Division, Firozpur, and the Executive Engineer, Canal-Lining Division,
Abohar. Its jurisdiction also extends
to the Faridkot District.
The
Superintendent Engineer is assisted by 1 circle head draftsman, 2 draftsmen, 1
tracer, 1 superintendent grade II, 1 superintendent grade IV, besides some
other class III and allied class IV staff.
The main function of Circle
is brick-lining of the channels.
Executive Engineer, Canal-Lining Division,
Firozpur : This division was opened on 9 June
1980. the Executive Engineer is assisted by 3 sub-divisional officers, 12
sectional officers, 1 superintendent grade IV, 1 divisional head draftsman, 1
draftsman, 1 assistant research officer, 3 research assistants, besides some
other class III and class IV staff. The main function of the Division is the
brick-lining of he channels.
Executive Engineer, Canal Lining Division,
Abohar :- Opened on 12 July 1979, the Canal-Lining Divisional, Abohar, is
entrusted with the work of brick-lining of the canals. The Executive Engineer
is assisted by 3 sub divisional officer, 12 sectional officers, 1
superintendent grade IV, 1 divisional head draftsman, 1 draftsman, besides some
other class III and class IV staff.
(b) Public
Relations Department
The Public Relations Department is represented at the district level by
the District Public Relations Officer. This office was opened during the World
War II under the name of ‘District National Home Front’ and its primary aim as
to mobilize the masses for recruitment to the Army and to seek their general
co-operation for war efforts. The work of maintaining communal harmony was also
entrusted to it. After Independence, this office was named District Publicity
Office and was entrusted with the work of publicizing the policies and decisions of the popular government and that of
motivating the people for active participation in the development schemes. The
office got its present name of ‘District Public Relation Office’ on 1 February
1951.
The
District Public Relations Officer, Firozpur, is assisted by 1 Assistant public
relations officer, 2 tehsil publicity organizers (one each at Fazilka and
Zira), 1 information centre assistant, 1 information centre attendant, 1 drama
inspector, 1 drama attendant, 1 radio supervisor, 1 radio mechanic, 1 stage
master, 1 harmonium master , 1 tabla master, 5 actors, and some other
ministerial and technical class III and class IV staff. There is also the
Additional District Public Relations Officer who posted at Fazilka.
The
duties of the District Public Relations Officer are to publicize the policies and decisions of the government
through press and mass media of dramas and cinemas, also including press
coverage, the organization of public meetings and rural conferences,
holding kavi darbars (poetical symposia), variety programmes and
exhibitions. The District Public
Relations Officer also received tourists from within the country and from
outside. He is also the Secretary of the District Library Committee, which
gives grants for the development of municipal libraries and for setting up
reading-rooms is the rural areas.
The
office also runs a Tourist Information Centre at the District Headquarters, the
Centre is frequently visited by foreign
tourists, entering India through the Hussainiwala Border. Under the Community
Listening Scheme, it has installed 352 radio-sets and 39 television-sets in the
District.
© Co-operative Department
At
the district level, the Department is represented by three Assistant registrar,
viz. the Assistant Registrar, co-operative Societies, Firozpur; the Assistant
Registrar, Co-operative societies, Fazilka, and the Assistant Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Zira. They are under the administrative control of
the Deputy Registrar Co-operative Societies, Firozpur (office established in
1974) and under the overall control of the Registrar, Co-operative Societies,
Punjab, Chandigarh.
The Office of the Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies,
Firozpur, was established in 1925. He is assisted by 1 superintendent grade IV,
1 statistical assistant, 25 inspectors, 24, sub-inspectors, besides some other
ministerial and class IV staff. The Assistant Registrar, Co-operative
Societies, Fazilka is assisted by 1 superintendent grade IV, 1 statistical
assistant, 30 inspectors, and 29 sub-inspectors, besides some other ministerial
staff and class IV staff. The Assistant Registrar Co-operative Societies, Zira
is assisted by 1 superintendent grade IV, 1 statistical assistant, 15
inspectors, 16 sub-inspectors, besides other class III and class IV staff.
The
main functions of the Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Firozpur,
Fazilka and Zira, are to ensure the proper growth and development of the
co-operative movement; the registration of co-operative societies, to exercise supervision over them and to
ensure the audit of the accounts of these societies. They also advance loans to
the members of the societies for stepping up agricultural production. Loans are
also advanced in the form of
fertilizers, seeds and agricultural implements.
(d) Food
and Supplies Department
The
Department is represented in the District by the District Food and Supplies
Controller, Firozpur. he is under the administrative control of the Director ,
Food and Supplies, Punjab, Chandigarh.
The
Office of the District Food and
Supplies Controller, Firozpur was established in 1944. He is assisted by 3
district food and supplies officers, 10 assistant food and supplies officers, 1
senior auditor, 1 superintendent, 6 head analysts, 12 deputy analysts, 1 statistical
assistant, 3 accountants, 23 junior auditors, 60 food and supplies inspectors
and 91 sub-inspectors, besides some other class IV staff.
The
main functions of the Department are : the procurement of foodgrains and the
distribution of sugar, rice, wheat , atta and vegetable ghee through fair-price
shops in urban as well as in rural areas, issue/the renewal of brick-kilns and direwood licences, allotment of
coal/coke and cement, the checking of
brick-kilns and cement depots, issuing
and checking of licences of foodgrains, rice hullers,
rice-shellers, kerosene, ghee, rice,
sugar, yarn, etc. The Department also maintains its own goodowns for storing
foodgrains.
(e) Finance
Department
The Finance
Department is represented in the District by the Treasury Officer, who is in
the charge of the District Treasury, Firozpur. He is assisted by 4 assistant
treasury officers (in charge off sub-treasuries at Abohar, Fazillka, Guru Har
Sahai and Zira), 1 assistant superintendent, 1 sadar cashier (district
treasurers), 6 assistant treasurers, 12 assistants besides some other
ministerial and class IV staff.
Previously, the District Treasury was under the control of the Extra Assistant
Commissioner (Revenue Department), who could not devote whole-time attention,
being mainly concerned with magisterial work. The treasury work was, as such,
in addition to his normal duties. Under the scheme of Reorganization of
Treasuries, introduced in 1955 into the State, the treasuries were transferred
to the Finance Department. Since then, the post of the Treasury Officer has
been manned by the officers from the Punjab Finance and Accounts Service
cadres.
The main duties of the
treasuries officer and the assistant treasury officers are to receive money and
make payments on behalf of the Punjab Government and to maintain the initial
accounts of the Government. They are also responsible to the
Accountant-General, Punjab, for the regular submission of monthly accounts, allied
returns, etc.
(f) Planning
Department
The Planning Department is represented at the District level by the
District Statistical Officer, Firozpur. His office was established in 1958. H is assisted by 3 technical
assistants, 1 inspector, 1 statistical assistant, 14 field assistants, besides
some other ministerial and class IV staff.
The main functions of the
District Statistical Office are to co-ordinate the statistical activities of
various offices at the district level and to publish statistical data to
improve the quality of the statistical work done at the district level, to
conduct ad hoc socio-economic survey to collect price data for supplying to
different Central and State agencies, to collect weekly retail prices, and to
act as the store of statistics for government institutions and interested
public.
(b)
Language Department
The Language Department is represented at the district level by the
District Language Officer, who is assisted by 1 instructor, besides some
ministerial and class IV staff. The office came into existence in 1962.
The main functions of the District Language Officer are to popularize
Punjabi in the District, to impart training in Punjabi shorthand and
typewriting, to organize literary meetings, kavi darbars (poetical symposia)
dramas, debates and poetic compositions, to celebrate birth and death
anniversaries of renowned poets and writers of the District at their native
places; to undertake the linguistic survey and to bring out glossaries, to give
financial assistance to literary men and institutions or organizations and to
assist the government office offices in translating pamphlets/books into
Soil
Conservation and Engineering Department
The soil Conservation and Engineering Department is represented in the
District by the Divisional Soil Conservation Officer, Firozpur. His office was
established in September, 1967. He is assisted by 3 Assistant soil conservation
officers, 1 assistant accounts officer, 35 agricultural inspectors/soil
conservation inspectors, 74 agricultural sub-inspectors, besides some other
ministerial and class IV staff. There are three sub-divisions in the charge of
this office, located at Firozpur, Fazilka and Zira, each headed by an assistant
soil-conservation officer.
The main functions of the Department are the execution of
land-improvement of the irrigation system by constructing pucca water-channels,
the laying of underground irrigation system and installing the sprinkler
irrigation system in the fields of the cultivator. it also undertaks the
levelling of land, so that proper irrigation can be provided. The field work is
got executed by the Assistant Soil Conservation Office.