The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c15.s1.23

c15.s1.23

There is little detailed information as to the *muqti's* subordinate staff, but since he was a miniature king, the reproduction of the Sultan's main departments in his province may perhaps be presumed. At the head of his secretariat stood the *dabir*; he had also a confidential adviser⁴. It does not appear that he had any prime minister or *wazir*, so called; Ainul Mulk Ashari, who is said to have been detailed as *wazir* to prince Firoz on his appointment to Budaun, was most probably only a tutor or guardian (*atabek*)⁵. Lesser officers, described as *mutasarrif*, *karkun* and *amil*, formed his administrative and fiscal staff⁶, controlled by his own revenue department over which the central *diwan-i-wazarat* could, at best, claim only auditing authority. The incident recorded by Barani of Iltutmish once appointing, on the wazir's recommendation, the clerk (khwaja) of the iqta of Kanouj, only illustrates a tendency rather than normal practice¹. Over the judiciary and the barid organization in the province the muqti, however, had little control.