Administrative System of the Marathas c27.s16.1

c27.s16.1

The Maratha Government like the Mughals had nothing to do with the rural police. The village headman kept rural peace as best as he could with the help of his Mahar watchmen. But the urban police was maintained by the state, and herein also we find another instance of the Marathas adopting the Muslim practice. The head of the city police was the *Kotwal*, and the origin of his office, as the name indicates was certainly Muhammadan. His principal duties as enumerated in a document dated 1767-68 were (for full particulars see Book II) (1) to dispose of important disputes within his jurisdiction, (2) to fix the prices of goods, (3) to supply labourers for Government work and to supervise sales and purchases of land, (4) to take a census and keep a record of all persons coming to and leaving the city. And over and above these he had to maintain peace and order in the city.