Administration

Administration

 

In 1906, the District was divided into two sub-divisions Shillong and Jowai. Shillong was the Head Quarters of the Deputy Commissioner and the summer Head Quarters of the Deputy Commissioner and the Local Government.
In addition to these officers, an Assistant Magistrate was stationed at Shillong, and an Engineer was also in charge of Kamrup District. 

The High Court at Calcutta had no jurisdiction in the hills, except over European British subjects. The Codes of Civil and Criminal Procedure were not in force, and the Deputy Commissioner exercised powers of life and death, subject to confirmation by the Lieutenant Governor. Petty criminal and civil cases, in which natives of the District were concerned, were decided by the village authorities.  

Serious offences and civil suits in which foreigners were concerned were tried by the Deputy Commissioner and his Assistants. There was, on the whole, very little serious crime in the District, but savage murders were occasionally committed. There were police stations in the hills at Shillong, Cherrapunji, and Jowai, and an outpost at Nongpoh. The only jail in the District was in Shillong accommodating 78 prisoners.