Faujdar

Faujdar was an office of the Mughal Empire that combined military, judicial and land revenue functions.^[1] The term "faujdar" has pre-Mughal origins. During those times, the term referred to a military officer but did not refer to a specific rank. With the administrative reforms of Mughal emperorAkbar, this rank was systemised. It constituted an independent administrative unit and its territorial limits varied from place to place and from time to time.^[2]

A faujdari (district) comprised a number of thanas (military outposts). At each of these, a number of sowars (soldiers) were stationed under a thanadar (chief). Each faujdari carried with it a fixed number of sawars, and it was up to the faujdar to station soldiers in the various thanas under him.^[3]

In addition, in some faujdaris, there were a number of thanas described as حضورِی, huzuri or حضورِی مشروطِی, huzuri mashruti. In these thanas, the thanadars were appointed directly by the central government via royal orders or at the recommendations of the Nizam or Diwan of the province. Such thanadars were, to a considerable degree, independent officers, who could receive orders directly from the central government. They were probably placed under the overall supervision of the faujdar and were expected to cooperate with him in maintaining law and order. They were created to ensure an efficient check on ambitious faujdars.^[4]

In an emergency, the faujdar of a charge could be called upon to enforce imperial regulations.^[5]

They were appointed by virtue of a royal order and the appointment bore the seal of the Bakshi ul Mulki. They received orders directly from the Emperor and submitted petitions directly to the court. Transfer was a well established practice.^[6]

Generally, a faujdar's military and police duties included:^[7]

• Maintaining law and order.
• Enforcing imperial regulations.
• Preventing drinking and other forbidden activities.
• Making sure blacksmiths did not manufacture guns.
• Apprehending thieves and restoring stolen properties. If he failed to do so, he was held personally responsible.
• Maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of roads and highways.
• Keeping rebel zamindars under check.
• Se aseguraba de que sus soldados estuvieran bien equipados y tomaba las medidas necesarias en caso de que algún soldado perdiera su caballo por cualquier motivo.

Sus funciones judiciales fueron: ^{[ 8 ]}

• Impartir justicia.
• Presidiendo el tribunal, junto con el Qazi y el Diwan .
• Decidir sobre casos relacionados con la Ley Sagrada, en consulta con funcionarios judiciales como el Mufti , el Qazi y el Mir Adl.
• Decidir sobre los casos que entraban dentro del ámbito de la administración tributaria y otras regulaciones imperiales generales, sin consultar con nadie más.

Sus funciones de administración de ingresos fueron: ^{[ 9 ]}

• Cobrar los impuestos sobre la tierra a los zamindares que evadían el pago y solo pagaban bajo la amenaza de la fuerza.
• Confiar la recaudación de los ingresos territoriales de dichos zamindares a los maoríes o nombrar a un intermediario y autorizar a los maoríes a recaudar los ingresos territoriales de este último.
• Prestar la asistencia necesaria al Amil en la recaudación de impuestos sobre la tierra en terrenos Khalsa o jagir , previa solicitud por escrito de este último. No se podía saquear una aldea hasta recibir una solicitud por escrito del Amil.
  • Al recibir dicha solicitud por escrito, debía contactar con algunos Muqaddams y persuadirlos para que obedecieran. Si respondían favorablemente en esta etapa, el Faujdar debía obtener el consentimiento por escrito del Amil.
  • Si los Muqaddams se negaban a someterse, debía saquear la aldea y castigar a los rebeldes. Los campesinos no debían sufrir daño alguno. El botín obtenido debía entregarse al Amil, quien debía dar un recibo al Faujdar.

• Kotwal
• Kiladar
• Castellano