Role of Deputy Commissioner in District Administration

The deputy commissioner (DC) or district magistrate (DM) or district collector or district magistrate and collector is the head of the revenue administration. The DC is required to be an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who is in charge of governmental assets in his district of jurisdiction. The DC is responsible for collecting revenue within the district, as it pertains to various governmental enactments such as Stamp and Registration Act, Land Reforms Act, Irrigation Act, Excise Act and Public Health Act. When executing duties with regard to revenue collection, the DC can exercise quasi-judicial functions. After independence, he continues to occupy a preeminent position at the district level and is the key functionary of the State Government. Keeping in view the importance of district collector, this paper highlights the evolution of the institution of the collector, his role in district administration and the constraints that inhibit the performance of his functions.