Administrative System of the Marathas c8.s5.10

c8.s5.10

Chitragupta was not a contemporary of Shivaji. Mr. V. K. Rajwade has described his work as a mere elaboration of Sabhasad's chronicle. We do not get a complete list of the Chitnis's official duties in Chitragupta. This want,⁴⁵ however, has fortunately been removed by a jabta of the first year of the coronation era. In that document the Fadnis also has been mentioned with the Chitnis in their official relation. A subordinate secretariat officer of no great importance in Shivaji's time, the Fadnis rose to great power and authority during the Peshwa regime. The Potnis was responsible for the account of income and expenditure of the metropolitan treasury, while the Potdar was only an assay officer. The eight pradhans had under them, besides their staff, the officers in charge of the eighteen *karkhanas* and twelve *mahals*. What precisely their duties were we do not know. The eighteen *karkhanas* and the twelve *mahals* were as follows :⁴⁶