Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/43

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H. H. The Nawab of Banganapalli. 29

through the Potitical Agent to the Governor of Madras, to be communicated to the bereaved members of the Eoyal Family.

It will not be out of place if we should give here some of the most important reforms effected by the Nawab in the interests of his subjects.

Formerly there was only one Amildar under the immediate directions of the Jaghirdar (as he was then known). All the civil and criminal cases would be taken before him and he would hear and dispose of them, without any particular procedure, the Amildar helping him as an interpreter. The Nawab has now introduced a new system by which the State is administrated on modern principles. A Tahsildar, assisted by a suitable establishment, is appointed. He is in charge of the State Treasury under the direct supervision of the Nawab. The Tahsildar is responsible for the due collection of revenue, and also for the settlement of boundary disputes, and other cases connected with land tenure. There is a Magistrate exclusively entrusted with criminal powers. The Munsiff is empowered to decide civil suits involving a sum up to Paipees 3,000. The Sac^ar Court presided over by the Nawab is the final appellate authority over the decisions of the above said courts. Besides being the Appellate Court, the Sadar Court exercises original civi> and criminal jurisdiction : in civil suits of above Kupees 3,000 and in grave criminal offences. The law in vogue in the British territory is observed here.

The Jail building is a new one on improved sanitary principles. There is a Eurasian in charge of it, and the local ISTedical officer is the ex-ofiicifj Superintendent.