Administrative System of the Marathas c18.s6.9

c18.s6.9

The Patil was, however, not an elected officer, nor could he be appointed by the government. His was a hereditary office which could be sold and purchased; and sometimes under pressure for money, unable to retain, yet reluctant to part with all the rights and perquisites of his office, the Patil disposed of some of them by sale and retained others. Thus there could be more than one Patil in a village. When the Patilship was enjoyed by several members of the family, the elder branch always enjoyed some additional privileges known as *wadilpan* or rights of seniority. Although not a very important point, yet it may be incidentally mentioned here that the Patil was seldom a Brahman; Muhammadan Patils were by no means rare.