Mughal Administration c13.s3.2

c13.s3.2

Among the twelve ordinances issued by Jahangir on his accession in 1605 was one to the following effect: "When any infidel or Musalman died in any part of my dominions, his property and effects were to be allowed to descend by inheritance, without interference from any one. When there was no heir, then officers were to be appointed to take charge of the property, and to expend it according to the law of Islam, in building mosques and sarais, in repairing broken bridges, and in digging tanks and wells.” (Tuzuk, 4.) But it is not clear from this whether he gave up the system of confiscating the property of deceased servants of the State, especially if they had running accounts with the Treasury. Aurangzib’s *farman* on the subject, dated 24th July 1666, is more explicit. He instructs the provincial *diwans* thus: “Whenever a servant of the State dies leaving no heir and owing nothing to the Treasury on account of advances (*mutaliba*) made to him, deposit his property with the store-keepers of the *Bait-ul-mal*. If he owes anything to the State, then take only the amount due and place the rest of his property in the *Bait-ul-mal*. If he has left any heir, attach his property three days after his death. If the property exceeds the amount of his debt to the State, take that amount only and deliver the balance to his heir after the latter has legally established his right. If the dead man owed nothing to the State, give his whole property to his heir, after legal proof.” (*Mirat-i-Ahmadi*, i. 266.)