The Rashtrakutas and their Times c16.s1.8

c16.s1.8

Vishayapatis exercised considerable revenue powers, since they are invariably mentioned in the copper plates among the officers requested not to disturb the possession of the donees of the lands or villages granted. They must have been obviously responsible to the provincial governors or to the central government for the revenue of their districts. Remission of taxes by subordinate officers required their sanction in order to be operative,¹⁶ but it is not clear whether they had not themselves to refer the matter to their superiors before passing their own orders on the point. In the Gupta administration the Vishayapatis had the power to sell the waste lands situated within their own jurisdiction on behalf of the central government; it is not known whether the Rāṣṭrakūṭas had permitted them similar powers. The administration was highly centralised, and it would be no wonder if we discover a record proving that no such powers were delegated to them.