A History of Assam c23.34

c23.34

The two districts of the Surma valley, which were transferred from Bengal to Assam on the formation of the Chief Commissionership, differed considerably in respect of their system of administration. Sylhet was a "Regulation" district and already had a separate judicial service, at the head of which was the District and Sessions Judge. He is aided at the present time by an Additional Judge, two subordinate judges, and a staff of munsifs for the disposal of civil cases. In 1874 the Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet and his subordinates had no civil powers and exercised only ordinary magisterial powers in criminal matters. In Cachar, the conditions at that time more nearly resembled those prevailing in the Brahmaputra valley. The Deputy Commissioner was vested with special powers under Section 30 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Judge of Sylhet was also Sessions Judge of Cachar, but he had no civil jurisdiction in that district; the Deputy Commissioner exercised the powers of a District Judge while the duties of subordinate judge and munsif were performed by the assistant and extra assistant commissioners respectively. Various changes have since been made. Except in North Cachar the powers of a District Judge have been transferred to the District Judge of Sylhet; and though the Deputy Commissioner has been vested instead with the powers of a subordinate judge (now no longer exercised by the assistant commissioner), he usually exercises them only for the performance of routine work. One of the subordinate judges of Sylhet has been given jurisdiction in Cachar, and he pays periodic visits to the district and hears most of the appeals from the assistant and extra assistant commissioners, who still do the work of munsifs.