RAS question
Which of the following roles does the District Collector NOT perform in Rajasthan?
Correct answer: (A) Presiding over Sessions Court trials.
In Rajasthan, the District Collector does not preside over Sessions Court trials; a Court of Session is presided over by a Judge appointed by the High Court.
Explanation
The District Collector has important district-level executive and administrative roles, but presiding over Sessions Court trials is not one of them. That judicial function belongs to the Sessions Judge. The verified Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 provides that every Court of Session is presided over by a Judge appointed by the High Court, and also refers to Sessions Judges and Additional Sessions Judges exercising powers in that court. The Collector may serve as District Magistrate, District Election Officer, Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, and head of revenue administration, but a Sessions Court trial belongs to the judiciary, not to the Collector's administrative office.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) The Collector does serve as Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority.
- (C) The Collector serves as District Election Officer for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections.
- (D) The Collector serves as District Magistrate for maintenance of law and order.
Concept
District administration and the district judiciary remain separate institutions. RAS frequently combines revenue, magisterial, election, disaster-management, and judicial-looking functions in coverage of the District Collector.