12 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
All districts not included within the limits of any of the four Subordinate Governments were under the direct jurisdiction of the Governor-General in Council who also exercised such power over the native states as accrued to him through treaty obligation. The official staff of the Governor-General was divided into four departments, each one represented by a Secretary. These were :
(1) The Foreign Department (foreign in relation to the native states).
(2) The Home Department, handling the judicial and revenue correspondence.
(3) The Financial Department.
(4) The Military Department.
Besides these the Political and Finance Secretaries had their respective Secret Departments which were entrusted with secret despatches.
The Subordinate Governments of Madras and Bombay were administered thus : Each had its respective Governors and Councils consisting of three members (including the Commander-in Chief ). Both the Governors and the Councillors were appointed by the Court of directors. Bengal and the North-west Provinces were each governed by the LieutenantGovernors who were appointed by the Governor-General. The Subordinate Governments were denied the power of legislation or creating any new office, nor could they “grant any salary, gratuity, or allowance without the previous sanction of the Governor-General of India in Council.” This extreme strictness though required by law was not required by custom : in order not to overburden the Governor-General, minor matters were executed by the Governor who submitted a quarterly report of the same to the higher authorities who reviewed it and as a matter of fact sanctioned it. The Bombay and Madras Governments were privileged to hold direct correspondence with the Court of Directors and did send the abstracts of their proceedings to the Court and to the Government of India. The instruments of Indian Government were furnished by what was and is known as the Civil (covenanted and uncovenanted), the Military, the Naval and the Ecclesiastical Service. The collection of revenue and administration of justice were relegated to the Civil Service.