Later Mughals v1.c6.s26.8

v1.c6.s26.8

Ikhlas Khan, who held the post of *arz mukarrar*, (whose duty it was to bring up all orders a second time for confirmation), thought that some check should be devised on the Emperor's profuse grants of rank and money rewards. He consulted Munim Khan, the chief minister, and as neither of them felt inclined to face the storm of unpopularity sure to be raised among the crowd of needy office-seekers, they put this disagreeable duty upon Muhammad Saqi Mustaid Khan (author of the *Masir-i-Alamgiri*) through whose honesty and uprightness they hoped that their object would be effected. His duties were to receive all applications after the first order had passed upon them, and then institute an enquiry whether the new men were fit for the service, by what means or on what grounds office or promotion had been granted, whether the proposed rank was more than their position justified or whether the promotion was given before the proper period. He had also to enquire into the grants for the support of holy and learned men. These enquiries caused great delay. The Emperor's wives Mihr-Parwar and Amat-ul-habib and other near relations put great pressure upon Mustaid Khan and forced his signature [attesting the correctness of the pay-bills] from him. In this way great irregularities arose, and the Emperor's signature lost its value. In fact he used himself to say that from him they must look for nothing but consent to everything, the claims of God's people could not be denied by him, and his signature was a formality and they might do as they thought fit. His habit of granting everything that was asked had become so notorious that some wit invented the words Shah-i-be-khabar (=1119), ‘the unheeding king’, as the chronogram for his accession. [K. K. 629-630.]