Section 24 in The Bengal Land-Revenue Settlement Regulation, 1822
24. First. - Collectors authorized to depute officers to make inquiries preparatory to settlement.
- It shall and may be lawful for a Collector or other officer exercising the powers of Collector preparatory to making or revising a settlement as aforesaid, to depute any tahsildar, kanungo, amin or other fixed or temporary officer to any village or mahal, whether the same be managed by a zamindar or farmer or be held khas, to inquire into the various matters which such Collector or other officer is required or empowered to investigate, in order to form a settlement in the mode prescribed by this Regulation.Any such [* * *] [Word 'Native' omitted by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950.] officer so deputed as above shall be deemed to be vested with the power of summoning and examining patwaris, gumashtas or other persons by whom the accounts of the village or mahal may be kept, in the same manner and with the same powers as is provided for officers deputed under section 25, Regulation 12, 1817.Furthermore, in case the Collector or other officer may so prescribe the said tahsildar or other person shall be empowered to make a measurement of the village or mahal into which they may be deputed, and to summon any mukaddams, padhans, raiyats or other residents, and to call upon them to point out the boundaries of such village or mahal, and to furnish information as to all matters relating to the land and the rights and interest attaching thereto; and any person contumaciously withholding information from an officer deputed as aforesaid shall be liable, on the same being established to the Collector's satisfaction, to the same penalty as is prescribed for patwaris refusing to attend or give evidence.Second. - Punishment of resistance or obstruction of process or order of Collector. - Provided also that any person who may by force or threats obstruct or resist the execution of any legal process, requisition or order of a Collector or the Revenue-officer shall, in addition to the penalties prescribed [any other law] [Words substituted for the words 'the existing Regulation' by Act 1 of 1903.] for such act, be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred rupees, or to imprisonment in the Diwani jail for a period not exceeding two months; the said fine or other penalty to be adjudged by the Collector after proceeding duly held and recorded, and the sentence to be immediately reported to the Board to which he may be subject.Third. - Police officers to aid execution of process and orders of Collectors. - Provided further that all police-officers shall aid and support the execution of all process and orders issued by a Collector or other officer aforesaid, on the responsibility of the officer issuing or executing the same; and, if any affray or breach of the peace shall occur in consequence of any resistance or obstruction being made, or attempted to be made, to the legal process or order of a Collector or other Revenue-officer, the parties resisting or obstructing such process or order shall be punishable for the affray or breach of the peace, and the Revenue-officer shall not be liable to any criminal prosecution on that account.
