Circular N. 4291 of the Territorial Department Revenue from the Officiating Secretary to the Government at Bombay Castle, Charles Edward Fraser Tytler, to the Resident in the Persian Gulf [‎36r] (17/24)

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service 'is that of the work actually performed by them, of which the Collector and his
Assistants may have frequent opportunities of judging for themselves, even as regards
the lower paid servants, when examining the Talooka accounts and records, and the
books of proceedings of District Police Officers.* If private memoranda were kept on
such occasions, they would often be very useful for reference in filling up appointments.
16. With reference to the 7th paragraph of Mr. Goldfinch's letter dated 25th May
last, I would observe, that whilst I agree with him that the principle of selection with
out regard to seniority should under any circumstances be maintained as regards the
Karkoons employed'immediately under the Collector and his Assistants, 1 am of opinion,
that whatever inconvenience may sometimes be occasioned, these Karkoons, especially
the Chitnees and Assistant Sheristadars, should frequently be changed. It is in this
way that, as it appears to me, the growth of undue influence, whether as regards the
distribution of patronage or any other matters, can most effectually be checked, and not
by measures tending to limit the field of promotion, and to diminish the Collector's
authority.
17. In conclusion, I beg to state that Mr. Goldfinch brought forward the same
proposition on a former occasion, but it was not approved of by my predecessor, Mr.
Bell, as will be seen on reference to the accompanying extract from his letter to his First
Assistant, dated 4th July 1849, No. 991.
(Signed) J. S. LAW,
Collector.
Despatched 23 rc/.
To J. S. LAW, Esq.,
Collector,
Dharwar.
Sir,
As directed in your memorandum No. 786, dated 23rd instant, beneath endorsement
from the Revenue Commissioner, forwarding remarks by the Collectors of Ahmednug-
gur, Belgaum, Sholapore, and Rutnagherry, on a system of promotion proposed by me to
be introduced in this Collectorate as an expeiiment, I have the honour to forward my
opinion and report.
2. The Collector of Ahmednuggur has rightly understood the meaning of the words
" will be promoted to the higher offices as they become vacant," and I quite concur in
the opinion that a person may be a very good Karkoon and Accountant, and fit to hold
any subordinate situation, and at the same time not be qualified to conduct the duties of
a head of a department; and a man may most undoubtedly be very clever, and at the same
time indolent and dishonest;—but the circumstances of this last man will not be improved
by the introduction of the proposed Rules : an indolent or dishonest man, who has been
proved to be such, is not fit for any appointment, and might be degraded or dismissed
under the proposed Rules the same as he may be now.
3. As regards the person who may be a good Karkoon, and yet not fit to fill the
appointment of head of an office, I submit that efficiency in the subordinate situation
of a Karkoon is the best, in fact the only, criterion by which we can judge of his fitness
for a higher appointment; and until such a man has had an opportunity of displaying his
* Vide Cirewlar No. 379 of the Sudder Foujdaree Adawlut.