Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c56.10

c56.10

A sidelight is thrown by the Gupta system of District administration. The Damodarpur copper plates, discovered in the district of Dinajpur, Bengal (EI, XV, pp. 113—145), prove that the District Officer [ *Vishaya-pati* or *Vishaya āyuktaka*, appointed by the Governor (*uparika*) of the Province of Bengal (Pundravardhana *bhukti*), the latter holding his appointment from the Emperor direct] made settlements of land in conjunction with (*samvya-vahārati*) the President of the town (*Nagara-śreshṭhin*), the President of the merchants, the senior (*Prathama*) *Kulika* (town judge), the Senior city Registrar (Prathama Kayastha). We thus find the local representatives associating with the Government District Officer in an administerial act of the District.