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Writer's pictureharshita gupta

Powers and Function of an IAS Officer as District Magistrate



Powers and Function of an IAS Officer as District Magistrate


IAS officers are the permanent executive of the govt machinery in India and run the govt of India under the guidance of temporary political executives. the character of the work and responsibilities of an IAS officer gives them immense power. However, the facility of an IAS officer depends on the position held by him from time to time during his career.


IAS officer as District Magistrate is the most powerful position within the district administration in India. Though the facility of an IAS officer increase as he's promoted from one level to a different, the facility wielded by a neighborhood Magistrate is most visible, and other people identify the facility of an IAS officer with the position of District Magistrate.


Powers and performance of an IAS Officer as District Magistrate

District Magistrate is that the executive head of the district with numerous responsibilities within the sphere of revenue administration, civil administration, development, panchayats, etc. thanks to the immense importance of the DM office, the District Magistrate is taken into account to be the measuring stick of efficiency publicly administration within the district.


The District Magistrate is the focus of all the facility that flows within the government machinery of the district. the facility of DM are often categorized under three broad category:


  • Power to Administer Law and Order

  • Power to gather Revenue

  • Powers associated with Development Planning

Power to Administer Law and Order

The District Magistrate is responsible for law and order which is that the basis of a secure life. District Magistrate is the head of the Criminal Administration of the District. With the help of the Superintendent of Police, she/he maintains law and order within the district. He takes preventive actions to make sure public peace and tranquillity within the district.


He has powers to bind down miscreants permanently behavior and peaceful conduct, make the preventive arrests under the Criminal Procedure Code, impose restrictions on unlawful assembly or impose even curfew that restricts free movement within the declared areas.


He has the facility to issue/suspend/cancel arms licenses, to order for preventive arrest under National Security Act if there's a threat to peace and to grant parole to under-trials/convicted criminals, etc.


Power to gather Revenue

District Magistrate is the head of revenue administration within the district. he's liable for the gathering of revenue to the government through the Board of Revenue or Finance Commissioners.


The DM is responsible for the district treasury. Chief Treasury Officer and other Treasury Officers work under his supervision and guidance. he's the guardian of the general public money and government property and also ensures strict compliance of state instructions on financial prudence


State laws require payment of stamps duty as a particular fixed percentage of the quantity or some fixed amount for registering differing types of transaction e.g. sale deed, transfer deed, gift deed, etc. for the acquisition and sale of properties, DM is permitted to notify circle/area rates in order that transactions don't happen at a lower rate to avoid government tax.


Powers associated with Development Planning

As the executive head of the civil administration, all departments within the district, which otherwise have their own functional head, look to District Magistrate for guidance and coordination.


1. District Magistrate takes care of five-years and annual district plans for the quantity allocated to the district by the State advisory board.


2. District Magistrate takes Inputs from all the road departments and allocates budgets for expenditures on ongoing schemes and projects and upcoming projects.


3. As head/deputy head of the Design Council, DM monitors the progress of implementation of approved schemes/projects and anticipated expenditures by the road departments at regular intervals.


4. DM heads the Coordination Cell of the banks within the district. This body prepares an annual plan for public lending under all sectors by different banks operating within the district and monitors the progress on a periodic basis.


5. DM chairs the District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC), which is liable for making an advance decision to mitigate the effect of impending disasters and supply assistance for cover, relief, and rehabilitation within the face of such disasters.


6. The DM is responsible to oversee the arrangements for provisions of essential commodities to the citizens through the general public Distribution System


7. Any function of the govt within the district, which isn't allocated to any line department automatically, comes within the jurisdiction of the DC. Being the chief executive of the district, his status is sort of a mini-government –all in one – at the district level.


As it is claimed with world power comes great responsibility. The District Magistrate has immense responsibilities and therefore the statues give him all the essential powers to execute these functions.


In the public parlance, DM is taken into account as ‘Mai-Baap’, i.e., parents of the people within the district. For any sort of grievances or injustice, associated with all types of officers of the Central/State government, DC is approached by the general public. It seems as if she/he has the panacea for all ailments in district-level governance.


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