THE SULTAN
The collapse of the Abbasid Caliphate led to the rise of Sultans, who were only secular leaders. The post of the Sultan began to be elevated. He was responsible for administration and was the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He was the ultimate court of appeal in all the judicial cases. He was the centre of the society and politics and held a magnificent court. The Sultan generally discussed all important matters of state in council, Majlis-i-Am or Majlis-i-Khalwat, in which the most trusted and highest officers were allowed to sit.
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
The Sultan was assisted by a number of ministers who were chosen by the ruler and held office as the ruler pleased. The number of ministers or the departments they headed were not fixed. According to Barni, there were four important ministers comparable to four pillars, on which administration rested, these were Diwan-i-Wizarat, Diwan-i-Arz, Diwan-i-Insha, Diwan-i-Risalat. The monarch could seek advice from anyone in whom he had confidence. The ministries did not form a council. There was no concept of joint responsibility.
IMPORTANT MINISTERS OF CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
Wazir Key figure in the administration, incharge of revenue and finance, who also controlled the other departments. His office was known as the Diwan-i-Wizarat.
Ariz-i-Mumalik Head of the Military Department. His office was known as the Diwan-i-Arz.
Diwan-i-Risalat It dealt with the religious matters and stipends to deserving scholars. It was presided over by the chief Sadr, who was generally a leading Qazi.
Diwan-i-Insha It dealt with the state correspondence. Barid-i-Mumalik Head of state news agency.
Wakil-i-Dar Controller of the royal household. Amir-i-Hazib Officer incharge of the royal court.
Sadr-i-Jahan Officer incharge of religious and charitable endowments.
Amir-i-Akhur Officer commanding the royal horses.
Amir-i-Dad Officer incharge of justice (public prosecutor).
Sahna-i-Pil Superintendent of royal elephants. Shiqdar Officer incharge of land measuring a ‘shiq’.
Amir-i-Majlis Officer incharge of royal feasts, conference and festivals. Majlis-i-Am or Majlis-i-Khalwat Council of friends and officers (trusted ministers) consulted on important affairs of state.
Kazi-ul-Kazat Head of the Central Judicial department.
Qazi Legal officer (dispensed Civil Law based on Muslim Law Shariat).
Sadr-us-Sudur Dealt with the religious matters.
Naib Wazir Deputy minister.
Local Administration
When the Turks conquered the country, they divided it into a number by tracts called the iqtas, which were parcelled out among the leading Turkish nobles. The holders of these offices were called muqtis, walis or naib. It were these tracts which later became provinces or Subas.
OFFICIALS OF PROVINCES
The provinces or the Subas were divided into Shiqs (districts). It was headed by a Shiqdar, who was a military man. Under him, many other officers conducted the District Administration.
The Shiqdar looked after the law and order of the district. The Shiqs were divided into Parganas. A Pargana of 100 villages was called Sadi.
The chief Pargana officer (faujdar) was vested with responsibility to maintain peace and order. The most important people in the village were the Khuts (landowners) and the Muqaddam (headman).