Circular no.5105 of 1855, from Henry Anderson, Secretary to the Government of Bombay, to the Resident in the Persian Gulf [‎193r] (3/4)

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4. We are therefore of opinion that Funds raised by means of fines should be discon
tinued, unless the foregoing objections should, on grounds to which we have not adverted
seem to you inapplicable to the Funds of-tjiat nature existing under your Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. .
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We are,
Your loving friends,
*•
(Signed) John Shepherd.
,, Henry Willock.
„ W. H. C. Plowden.
„ John Lock.
„ Russell Ellice.
„ John C. Whiteman.
„ R. Jenkins.
„ H. Alexander.
„ J. Oliphant.
„ J. W. Masterman.
,, H. Shank.
„ F. Warden.
„ A. Robertson.
London^ 29<A May 1844.
No. 25 of 1845.
Judicial Department.
Our Governor in Council at Bombay.
Para. 1. In your letter in the Revenue Department, dated the 18th of July last,
No. 52, you have replied to our letter in this Department, dated the 29th of May 1844
(No, 6), in which we stated our objections to the " Fine Funds" in public offices under
your Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. .
2. Those Funds consist of fines imposed for official irregularities, and out of thern
gratuities are awarded for particular instances of good conduct, in both eases at the discretion
of the Head of the Office. Our main objection to the practice was that the salaries of
public establishments, from a necessary regard to economy, are upon so low a scale that
they do not admit of reduction by fine, without making the party liable to pecuniary embar
rassment, and, in situations of trust, taking away a guarantee for the faithful discharge of
his duty. In reply, you urge the inexpediency of divesting the Heads of Departments of a
powerful aid in securing efficient services from those under their authority ; and in order
to guard against abijse, you have required quarterly returns of fines imposed to be furnished,
in the Revenue Department to the Commissioners, and in the Judicial Department to the
Sudder Adawlut.
3, Our views on the subject are unchanged; and we are apprehensive that the proposed
review of the condact of Public Officers in the exercise of the discretion in question might
tend to weaken their just authority, and also might lead to an unprofitable correspondence