Records of the Secretariat Department

Record Holding >> Records of the Secretariat Department

These records are as follows:-

The Mumbai Records Office was originally created for housing and preserving the records of the Secretariat, which till then were with the offices of the respective Secretaries to Government, and a few subordinate offices deposited their records in the Record Office in the last century. Now very rarely a subordinate or sub-office of the State Government sends its records to the Record Office for preservation. Hence, the main bulk of the Government Records in Mumbai Archives belongs to the Secretariat (afterwards known as “Sachivalaya” and now as “Mantralaya”) Departments.

The following is a brief description of the Secretariat Departments, whose records are housed in the Mumbai Archives, along with the particulars of the records created by them. The details of subjects dealt with by different Departments discussed here are limited to the period for which the records are housed in Mumbai Archives and Mantralaya Records Rooms. Records of the latter are distinguished from the former by “MRR” in brackets against them. The recent distribution of subjects among the various existing Departments is given in Appendix ‘D’.

PUBLIC (GENERAL) DEPARTMENT

  1. Public Department

    The first instance of the division of Government business into Departments can be traced to the institution of a Public Department. The ‘Public’ Diary No. 1 of 1720, commences thus: “The Consultation and Diary Book of Charles Boone, Esquire, President and Governor &c, Council. The proceedings in the Affairs of the Right Honorable United Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East India’s in the Presidency of Mumbai, Surat, Persia, &c, pursuant to the Establishment made by the Honorable Court of Directors in their letter of the 5th April 1715, &c,.”. Thus it seems that this Department was created on 5th April 1715. But a printed list of the India Office Records shows that there are in the India Office, the proceedings of the Government of Bombay Mumbai in the Public Department from 18th November 1704. The Department dealt with subjects of public interest – construction of roads, public buildings, medicine, weights and measures, etc. Military and Commercial Departments formed part of this Department before they were separated in 1805. It also dealt with ecclesiastical matters till the Ecclesiastical Department was placed under Secretary, Military Department in September 1860.

    The series of Public Department Diaries in Mumbai Archives consists of 449 volumes starting with January 1720 and ending with December 1820.

  2. General Department

    In 1821, the Public Department having been shown of many important functions, its name was changed to “General Department” and the Department dealt with subjects like Local Self-Government, scientific, medical and sanitary matters, conduct of public servants, etc. “Public Works” remained part of the General Department till its separation in 1860. Railway scheme was considered in this Department between 1844 and 1848.

  3. Urban Development, Public Health and Housing Department

    At present, the Department is designated as Urban Development, Public Health and Housing Department.

    The subjects allotted to this Department may be grouped under three main heads, viz. – (a) urban development including local self-government,(b) public health and (c) housing.


holding
  • Diaries: (January 1720 to December 1820) – 449 volumes (Nos. 1 to 439 Nos.28, 29, 31, 66, 77, 185, 194, 259, 281 and 423 are double. No. 1 is in bad Condition.
  • Outward or Order Books (1766 to 1820) – 192 volumes (Nos. 1 to 187, No.8 being triple and Nos. 14, 78 and 137 double.).
  • Minute Books : (1790 to 1820) – 55 volumes (Nos. 1 to 55).
  • Volumes: (1821 to 1912) – 7,803 volumes.
  • Compilations: (1913 to 1921) – 14,166 compilations.
  • Letters from the Court of Directors: (1681 to 1820) – 24 volumes – (Nos. 1 to 24).
  • Letters from the Court of Directors (Duplicates): (1743 to 1885) – 74 Volumes (Nos. 1 to 74).
  • Letters to the Court of Directors (Outwards): (1746 to 1868) – 118 volumes (Nos. 1 to 44).
  • Letters to the Court of Directors (Duplicates): (1796 to 1895) – 48 volumes – (Nos. 1 to 48) (No duplicates for 1799, 1804 and 1819).
  • Abstracts of Proceedings (Printed): (1861 to 1932) – 74 volumes.
  • G.D. Confidential Abstracts of Proceedings: (1905 to 1930) – 16 volumes.
  • Files
    • General Series – 2,280 files.
    • ‘33’ Series – 2,900 files.
    • Tri literal Series (1953 to 1971) – 19,270 files (MRR)*
    • Vidarbha Files – (1947 to 1956), -- 1,842 files (MRR)*
    • ‘S’ Series (1922 to 1953) – 1,750 files (1945 to 1959) – 24 files (MRR)*
    • ‘P’ Series (1920 to 1953) – 105 files (1949 to 1965) – 229 files (MRR)*
    • ‘LA’ Series (1949 to 1953) – 3 files
    • ‘LC’ Series (1922 to 1953) – 4 files.
    • ‘O’ Series (1953) – 2 files; 10 files (MRR)*
    • G.D. (Plague) (1904 to 1910) – 756 Compilations
    • G.D. (P.D.) Files (1920) – 30 files
Reference Tools
  • Volume Lists: (1821 to 1912) – 35 lists.
  • Compilation Lists: (1913 to 1921) – 2 lists.
  • Key Books : (1843 to 1892) – 33 lists.
  • File Index: (1921 to 1950) – 7 lists.
  • File Lists: (1921 to 1953) – 5 lists.
  • Inward Registers: (1845 to 1909) – 325 Registers.
  • Outward Registers: (1862 to 1921) – 113 Registers.

* MRR – Records in Mantralaya Record Rooms which are under the Directorate of Archives.


SECRET AND POLITICAL DEPARTMENT (Now known as General Administration Department)

Secret and Political Department was formed under the orders of the Court of Directors contained in their letter of 5th April 1754. Proceedings of this department commenced from 10th March 1755. The subjects dealt with by this Department were mostly of political nature, viz. correspondence with Residents at Foreign Courts, transactions with Foreign Nations and country powers, military affairs, etc.

The Records of this Department from 1809 to 1820 are divided into two separate Departments, (1) Political Department and (2) Secret Department. The Descriptive Catalogue of the Secret and Political Department Series (1755 to 1820) has been published in 1954, and the same is useful for Research Scholars desirous of doing research in these records.

Holding
  • Secret and Political Department

    • 1) Diaries : (1755 to 1808) -- 268 volumes (Nos. 1 to 260 and Nos. 14, 17, 19, 33, 41, 66, 164 and 165 are double).

    2) Outward or Order Books: (1778 to end of 1814) -- 57 volumes (Nos. 1 to 57). No.1 is called “Select Committee Four Order Book”.

    3) Minute Books : (1755 to end of 1813) -- 27 volumes (Nos. 1 to 27). There is a gap from August 1762 to September 1769.

    4) Letters to the Court of Directors: (1799 to 1814) -- 14 volumes (Nos. 1 to 14).

  • Secret Department

    • i) Diaries (1809 to 1820) -- 58 volumes (Nos. 260A to 317).

    ii) Minute Books (May 1813 to end of 1820) -- 8 volumes (Nos. 1 to 8).

    iii) Letters from the Court of Directors (Inwards) : (1744 to 1847) – 16 volumes.

    iv) Letters from the Court of Directors (Duplicates) : (1788 to 1825) – 25 volumes.

    v) Letters to the Court of Directors (Outwards): (1815 to 1860) – 151 volumes:(Nos. 1 to 151).

    vi) Letters to the Court of Directors (Duplicates): (1822 to 1828) – 1 volume.

  • Political Department

    • i) Diaries: (1809 to 1820) -- 180 volumes (Nos.318 to 497).

    ii) Minute Books: (1813 to 1820) – 12 volumes (Nos. 28 to 39).

    iii) Outwards or Order Books: (1815 to end of 1820) -- 18 volumes (Nos. 58 to 75).

    iv) Volumes: (1820 to 1913) – 10,810 volumes.

    v) Compilations: (1914 to 1921) 12,408 Compilations.

    vi) Letters from the Court of Directors : (1794 to 1873) -- 145 volumes.

    vii) Letters from the Court of Directors (Duplicate): (1796 to 1862) – 96 volumes.

    viii) Letters to the Court of Directors : (1796 to 1827) – 384 volumes.

    ix) Letters to the Court of Directors (Duplicates): (1796 to 1827) – 18 volumes.

    x) Table of Contents of Dispatches to the Court of Directors : (1841 to 1847) -- 6 volumes.

    xi) Abstracts of Proceedings (Printed) : (1860 to 1932) – 94 volumes.

    xii) Files. These are classified as follows
    • General Series 1,000 files.
    • 34’ Series : 5,000 files.
    • ‘46’ Series: 2,002 files.
    • ‘52’ Series 1,801 files (MRR).
    • Tri literal Files : (1952 to 1967) – 38,400 files (MRR).
    • ‘S’ Series : (1922 to 1945) – 4,000 files(1946 to 1952)-558 files(MRR).
    • ‘P’ Series: (1922 to 1959) – 1,500 files.
    • P. & S. D. (R.C.D.) Files 200 files.
    • Passport Files (1916 to 1938) – about 100 files.
    • P.D. (War) Compilations ( 1914 to 1921) – 120 files.
    • P. & S. D. War Branch Files (Nos. W2 to W1000) – 100 files
    • P.&S.D. Select Files : 9 files
    • P. & R.D. Files : Political Department (Reforms Office Files) – about 900files
    • P.D. Confidential Abstracts of Proceedings: (1899 to 1928) 16 volumes.
    • Miscellaneous Records re: Cutch, etc. (received from National Archives of India, New Delhi – 500 files.)
    • Miscellaneous Records “Records re: Junagadh & Mangrol” (1914 to 1922) - 19 files.
    • P.D. (D.D.) – 100 files.
    • Political & Reforms Department – 100 files.
    • Madhya Pradesh Files – 558 files (MRR).
Reference Tools
  • Volumes Lists : (1820 to 1913) – 4 lists
  • Compilation Lists : (1914 to 1922) 5 lists
  • Key Books : (1832 to 1922) – (111 volumes)
  • File Index : (1) 1922-35, (2) 1936-44 – 2 volumes (Printed)
  • Files Lists: (1922 to 1958) – 12 lists
  • Inward Registers from 1835 to 1922 – 373 Registers
  • Outward Registers from 1852 to 1922 – Registers
  • Descriptive Catalogue of Secret & Political Department Series – (1755 – 1820)

REVENUE DEPARTMENT (Now known as Revenue and Forests Department)

This Department was formed under the orders of the Court of Directors, contained in their letter of 19th March 1778. The proceedings of this Department commenced from 1st January 1779. It mainly dealt with matters of survey settlements, land alienations, khoti and khoti villages, boundary disputes, forests, etc. In 1778 the Mumbai Government administered but a small part of territory round about the island of Mumbai, but by 1827 it was master of the Peshwa’s conquered territories and in that capacity was administering affairs of the Southern Maratha Country, the Deccan, the Konkan and Gujarat. The observations cover the entire ground of revenue administration, the different tenures obtaining in the country, the rights of Government over the produce of the land, ancient village officers and their relation with the ryots, survey and assessment and general village economy. They form a valuable commentary on the revenue administration of the Presidency. For some time, forests were dealt by Marine and Forest Department.

Holding
  • Diaries : (1779 to 1820) – 167 volumes.
  • Outward or Order Books : (1813 to 1820) – 16 volumes.
  • Minute Books: (1786 to 1791) – 1 volume.
  • Volumes: (1821 to 1911) – 16,863 volumes.
  • Compilations (1912 to 1919) – 2,082 compilations.
  • Letters from the Court of Directors: (1787 to 1851) – 23 volumes.
  • Letters from the Court of Directors (Duplicate): (1795 to 1885) – 71 volumes.
  • Letters to the Court of Directors 1789 to 1885) – 52 volumes.
  • Draft Letters to the Court of Directors: (1796 to 1815) – 6 volumes.
  • Duplicate Letters from the Secretary of State for India (1867) – 1 volume.
  • Abstracts of Proceedings: (1861 to 1931): 62 volumes.
  • Confidential Proceedings for the year 1909 – 6 volumes.
  • Post – 1920 files

      • i) General Series : ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ General Series – 3,300 Files.

      ii) ‘24’ Series 1,600 Files.

      iii) ‘28’ Series 2,000 Files.

      iv) ‘33’ Series 3,600 Flies.

      v) ‘39’ Series 2,400 Files.

      vi) ‘45’ Series 2,330 Files (MRR).

      vii) ‘49’ Series: 2,208 Files (MRR).

      viii) ‘51’ Series: 1,552 Files (MRR).

      ix) Tri literal Series (1953 to 1975) – 11,585 Files (MRR).

      x) ‘S’ Series : (1921 to 1945) – 600 Files, (1946 to 1963), 1,270 Files.

      xi) ‘P’ Series: 1932 to 1945) – 500 Files, (1946 to 1960) – 789 Files.

      xii) ‘PR’ Series: (1964 to 1963) – 120 Files.

      xiii) ‘O’ Series (1949 to1959) – 650 Files.

      iv) F. & G. File reg. Land etc. (for the year 1920) – 75 files.

*This volume is under the heading ‘Forest Department’.

Reference Tools
  • Volume Lists: (1821 to 1911) – 42 lists.
  • Compilation Lists : (1912 to 1919) – 8 lists.
  • Key Books: (1857 to 1921) – 63 lists.
  • File Index (1920 to 1945) – 5 lists.
  • File Lists (1920 to 1945) – 7 lists.
  • Inward Registers: (1844 to 1921) – 515 Registers.
  • Outward Registers: (1847 to 1921) – 323 Registers.

COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT

This Department was formed under the orders of the Court of Directors, contained in their letter of 21st September 1785 and its proceedings commenced from 4th September 1786. It was a part of the Public Department till 1805. From 1805 to 1813 there was a combined “Commercial and Military Department”, and both were separated from each other in 1813. With the closure of the commercial business the Commercial Department was abolished in 1836, under the orders of the Court of Directors, contained in Para 2 of their letter of 19th November 1833, as it was ordained in Parliamentary Act 3rd and 4th William IV Cap. 85., passed on the 28th August 1833, that the Company should close their commercial business.

Holding
  • Diaries: (1786 to 1820)—151 Volumes.
  • Outward or Order Books: (1813 to 1820)—17 volumes.
  • Minute Books: (1786 to 1789)—1 volume.
  • Volumes: (1821 to 1836)—78 volumes.
  • Letters from the Court of Directors: (1787-1833)—22 volumes.
  • Letters to the Court of Directors: (1788- 1836)—24 volumes.
  • Duplicate Letters to the Court of Directors: (1796- 1820)—14 volumes.

Note- For Outward or Order Books and Minute Books for the period from 1805 to 1813, please see under Military Department.(No reference tool for this Department’s records is available).


MILITARY DEPARMENT

This was established in 1788 under the orders of the Court of Directors, contained in their letter of 21st November 1787 and its Proceedings commenced from 3rd June 1788. It formed part of the Public Department till 1805. It was separated from the Commercial Department in 1813. The Ecclesiastical Department was put in charge of the Secretary of this Department in September 1860. The Government of India assumed complete control of military affairs and the Department was abolished on 1st April 1895.

Holding
  • Military and Commercial Department —

      • i) Outward or Order Books: (1805 to May 1813) -- 82 volumes (Nos. 1 to 82).

      ii) Minute Books: (May 1805 to end of 1813) --18 volumes.

  • Military Department--

      • i) Diaries: (1788 to 1820) -- 367 Volumes.

      ii) Outward or Order Books: (1813 to 1820) --17 volumes.

      iii) Minute Books:(1787 to 1789) --1 volume. (1805 to1820) -- 33 volumes.

      iv) Volumes: (1821 to 1895)—6,724 volumes.

      v) Letters from the Court of Directors: (1787-1895) -- 132 volumes.

      vi) Duplicate Letters from the Court of Directors: (1789 to 1895)—84 volumes.

      vii) Letters to the Court of Directors: (1788 to 1894)—108 volumes.

      viii) Duplicate Letters to the Court of Directors: (1796-1892)—88 volumes.

      ix) Duplicate Letters from the Secretary the East India House: (1839 to 1846) —1 volume.

  • Military and Marine Department

      • i) Letters from and to the Court of Directors: (1836 to 1861)—20 Volumes.

Reference Tools
  • Volume Lists (1821 to 1895) 1 list.
  • Key Books: (1870 to 1879)—5 lists.
  • Inward Registers: (1841 to 1895)—115 Registers.
  • Outward Registers: (1843 to 1899)—38 Registers.

JUDICIAL DEPARMENT (Now Known as Home Department)

Judicial Department was established under the orders of the Court of Directors, contained in their letter of 18th June 1794 and its Proceedings commenced from 6th March 1795. Matters pertaining to Law and Regulations were to the dealt with in this Department. Some of its subjects formed part of the Political and Legislative Departments till 1920, though in 1907 the Legislative Department was separated from the Political Department. In 1921 the Judicial Department was separated from the Political Department and the nomenclature of the former was changed into “Home Department”. The Special Branch of this Department was converted into Home Department (Special). In 1925 Industrial Disputes, Labour Office was transferred from Home Department (Special) to General Department from which the administration of Ecclesiastical affairs was taken over by the Home Department. It also dealt with matters arising out of Indian Christian Marriage Act.

The Executive and Special Branches functioned independently of Home Department (Proper) till 1945.

The Home Department now deals with police civil and criminal justice, maintenance of peace and order, jails, etc. besides dealing with matters relating to Political Activities, Public Security, Communal Organizations, Obscene Literature, Military and Political intelligence.

Holding

(A) Judicial Department

  1. Diaries : (1795 to 1820) – 130 volumes.
  2. Outward or Order Books : (1813 to 1820) – 13 volumes.
  3. Minute Books : (1813 to 1820) – 1 volumes.
  4. Volumes: (1821 to 1911) – 10,730 volumes.
  5. Compilations: (1912 to 1921) – 1,103 compilations.
  6. Letters from the Court of Directors (1814 to 1860) – 34 volumes.
  7. Duplicate Letters from the Court of Directors (1814 to 1845 & 1861 to 1886) – 59 Volumes.
  8. Letters to the Court of Directors: (1796 to 1863) – 93 volumes.
  9. Duplicate Letters to the Court of Directors (1803 to 1869) – 95 volumes.
  10. Judicial Department (Police) Letters to the Court of Directors: (1852 to 1854) – 2 Volumes.
  11. J.D. (Police) Volumes: (1852 to 1854) – 85 volumes.
  12. Duplicate Letters to the Court of Directors: (1853 to 1854) – 2 volumes.
  13. Abstracts of Proceedings: (1852 to 1920) – 192 volumes. (File or Compilation Nos. and titles of the subject are given in ink against the extracts, in these volumes which facilitate to search the original correspondence from the compilations/ volumes and files).
Reference Tools
  • Volume Lists : (1821 to 1911) – 31 lists.
  • Compilation Lists: (1912 to 1921) – 9 lists.
  • Key Books: (1841 to 1921) – 91 volumes.
  • Inward Registers: (1852 to 1921) – 318 Registers.
  • Outward Registers: (1863 to 1921) – 113 Registers.

(B) Home Department – Post – 1920 files:
  • 1st Series 2,300 files.
  • 2nd Series: 1,900 files.
  • 3rd Series: 1,950 files.
  • 4th Series: 4,900 files.
  • 5th Series: 2,600 files.(5 – A) 5th series 2,769 files (MRR).
  • 6th Series: 1858 files (MRR).
  • 7th Series: 2950 files (MRR).
  • Tri literal Series (1953 to 1968) – files (MRR).
  • Series (1921 to 1944) – 2,000 files, and (1945 to 1953), 2,313 files (MRR).
  • P Series (1921 to 1948) – 1035 files and (1945 to 1956) – 538 files.
  • L.C. Series (1921 to 1938) – 400 files and 354 files.
  • O Series (1946 to 1953) – 33 files (MRR).
  • L.A. Series: 642 files (MRR).
  • Home (Political) Department (1921 to 1940) – 2,794 files.
  • Home (Special) Department: (1908 to 1949) – 1,902 files. (These files supply Useful source.
  • Home Department (A.R.P.) Files –104 files.
  • R.D. (H.D.) Files (Originally H.D. Files) - (1926 to 1940) –12 files.
  • M.P. (Madhya Pradesh) Files --53 files.
  • Abstracts of Proceedings: (1921 to 1931) –39 volumes.
Reference Tools

  1. Home Department –

    i) File Index: (1921 to 1944) –24 lists.

    ii) File Lists: (1932 to 1944) –28 lists.

    iii) Inward Registers (1921 to 1944) –75 Registers.

    iv) Outward Registers (1915 to 1944) –54 Registers.

  2. Home (Political) Department

    i) File Lists: (1921 to 1941) –1 list.

    ii) Inward Registers: (1921 to 1941) –48 Registers.

    iii) Outward Registers: (1921 to 1940) –34 Registers.

  3. Home (Political) Department

    i) File Lists (1908 to 1948) –1 list.


FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT (Now known as Finance Department)

This Department was formed under the orders of the Court of Directors, contained in their letter of 25th April 1811 (para3) and its Proceedings commenced from 2nd September 1811. It dealt with matters of financial interest such as trade, commerce, banking, mint, public receipts and expenditure, etc. Matters connected with the Mumbai Mint formed part of the Financial Department; from 1830 the proceedings relating to Mint were separately maintained till they were incorporated again in its parent Department in 1837. Between 1849 and 1860 “Railway” formed part of the Department till it was transferred to Public Works Department in 1860.

Holdings
  • Diaries : (1811 to 1820) – 30 volumes.
  • Outward or Order Books : (1818 to 1820) – 15 volumes.
  • Minute Books (1813 to 1820) – 9 volumes.
  • Volumes: (1821 to 1912) – 5,370 volumes.
  • Compilations (1913 to 1920) – 9,774 compilations.
  • Letters from the Court of Directors: (1808 to 1850) – 19 volumes.
  • Duplicate Letters from the Court of Directors (1808 to 1885) – 58 volumes.
  • Letters to the Court of Directors (1807 to 1867) – 38 volumes.
  • Duplicate Letters to the Court of Directors: (1807 to 1885) –24 volumes.
  • Abstracts of Proceedings: (1861 to 1931) : 81 volumes.
  • Post – 1920 files

      i) General Series : 2,900 files.

      ii) ‘33’ Series 2,000 Flies.

      iii) Tri literal Series: (1953 to 1959) – 703 Files (MRR).

      iv) ‘S’ Series (1921 to 1944) – 1,300 Files.

      v) ‘P’ Series (1921 to 1948) – 1,000 Files.

      vi) F.D. (P.D.) files –General Series (Nos. 42 to 9997) –600 files.

      vii) F.D. (P.D.) files – 33 Series: (Nos. 24/33 to 2632/33) –200 files.

      viii) F.D. (P.D.) – L Files - 300 files.

      ix) F.D. (P.D.) – S files – 10 files.

      x) F.D. (P.D.) – R Series : (1921 to 1937) – 20 files.

      xi) L.C. Files (1921 to 1927) –315 files.
Reference Tools
  • Volume Lists: (1821 to 1912) – 24 lists.
  • Compilation Lists : (1913 to 1920) – 5 lists.
  • Key Books (1862 to 1912) – 50 lists.
  • File Indices: (1921 to 1950) – 4 lists.
  • File Lists: (1921 to 1950) – 7 lists.
  • Inward Registers: (1861 to 1919) – 269 Registers.
  • Outward Registers (1854 to 1920) – 155 Registers.

SEPARATE DEPARTMENT

The name “Chief Secretary’s Separate Office” appeared for the first time in the Statement of Civil Establishments on 1st May 1822. In the previous statement, it is shown as ‘Chief Secretary’s Office’. The records of this Department previous to 1830 are destroyed. The first Diary of this Department was of 1799. It thus appears that the Department was formed in 1799. The Department was organized for the purpose of the Chief Secretary’s duties in connection with the arrivals and departures of ships, issue of passes and other miscellaneous duties. Later the duties comprised delivery of orders to officers arriving from Europe, care of the Secretariat building and its furniture, the management of the Record Office, etc. The Department is now merged with the General Administration Department.

Holding
  • Volumes : (1830 to 1913) –439 volumes
Reference Tools
  • Inward Registers (1883 to 1913) – 4 Registers. Outward
  • Registers: (1883 to 1899) –2 Registers.

ECCLESIASTICAL DEPARTMENT

Under instructions from the Court of Directors in their letter of 4th March 1817, the Proceedings of the Ecclesiastical affairs came to be maintained separately and a separate Department was created. The Department was to deal with baptists, baptisms, burials, cathedrals, cemeteries, chaplains, churches, endowments, simirals, priests, construction and repairs of churches, etc. However, this Department was under the Secretary Public Department and till the beginning of 1847, its proceedings formed part of the Proceedings of the Public Department (which after 1820 became General Department). Since then it was treated as a separate department. In 1860 it was placed under the Secretary, Military Department and later it came under the Secretary, General and allied Departments. In 1925 the Ecclesiastical matters were taken over by the Home Department.

Holding
  • Letters from the Court of Directors (1828 to 1873) – 19 volumes.
  • Duplicate Letters from the Court of Directors: (1816 to 1842) – 4 volumes.
  • Letters to the Court of Directors: (1817 to 1857 and 1860 to 1873) – 15 volumes.
  • Duplicate Letters to the Court of Directors: (1820 to 1895) –5 volumes.
  • Volumes: (1847 to 1911) – 912 volumes.
  • Abstracts of Proceedings: (1864 to 1936) 73 volumes.
  • Files: ‘P’ Series (re: Budget Grants) (1928 to 1930) – 6 files.
Reference Tools
  • Volume Lists: (1847 to 1909) – 5 lists.
  • Inward Registers (1852 to 1921) – 38 Registers. Outward.
  • Registers: (1882 to 1921) – 12 Registers.

MARINE AND FOREST DEPARTMENT

In consequence of the great increase of business of a miscellaneous nature in the Public Department, the Government of Mumbai separated the correspondence relating to the Marine and control of Forests into a distinct Department. The Proceedings commenced from 2nd January 1818. It is interesting to note that the Mumbai Marine then constructed ships –battle ship –for the British Navy. Smaller vessels such as pilot boats, pilot brigs were never brought from England. Indian artificers made them in the Mumbai Docks out of wood procured from Malabar, Thana and Dang forests. Most of the timber used for constructing small crafts, paddles, came from Malabar; attempts were made to plant good teak in Salsette Island and carpenters were secured from Surat.

Holding

(A) Marine and Forest Department
  • Diaries : (1818 to 1820) – 15 volumes.
  • Outward or Order Books : (1818 to 1820) – 6 volumes.
  • Minute Books : (1818 to 1820) – 3 volumes.
  • Letters from the Court of Directors: (1798 to 1866) – 64 volumes.
  • Duplicate Letters from the Court of Directors: (1798 to 1867) – 58 volumes.
  • Letters to the Court of Directors: (1848 to 1860) –41 volumes.
  • Duplicate Letters to the Court of Directors: (1818 to 1895) –67 volumes.
(B) Marine Department
  • Volumes: (1834 to 1900) – 1,858 volumes.
  • Letters from the Court of Directors: (1841 to 1858) – 7 volumes.
  • Duplicate Letters from Secretary at the East India House: (1841 to 1858) – 7 volumes.
  • Abstracts of Proceedings: (1861 to 1894) – 34 volumes.
  • Compilations and Files (1906 to 1929) –1,800 compilations.
  • S Series Files : (1921 to 1924) – 30 files.
  • P Series Files: (1921 to 1924) – 50 files.
  • L.C. Series Files: (60 files).
Reference Tools
  • Volume Lists: (1834 to 1900) – 15 lists.

MINT DEPARTMENT

The matters connected with the Mumbai Mint formed one of the subjects of the ‘Financial Department’. In 1830 it was considered advisable to record the proceedings separately, for the convenience of reporting to the Court of Directors the progress of the New Mumbai Mint which was then under construction. But later at the suggestion of the Secretary, Finance Department the proceedings were commenced to be incorporated in the proceedings of the Finance Department from 1st January 1837. In 1876 the Government of India assumed charge of the Bombay Mint.

Holding
  • Volumes: (1830 to 1836) – 29 volumes.
  • Letters to the Court of Directors: (1829 to 1835) – 2 volumes.

STEAM DEPARTMENT

In pursuance of the instructions from the Court of Directors the proceedings in the Marine Department relating to Steam Ships were recorded separately from August 1837 to June 1839. The Department was however discontinued in 1839.

Holding
  • Volumes (1836 to 1839) - 19 volumes.
  • Letters to the Court of Directors (1828 to 1839) - 2 volumes.
  • Duplicate Letters to the Court of Directors: (1838 to 1839) - 2 volumes.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT (Now known as Public Works and Housing Department)

Up to 1855, the proceedings connected with public works formed part of the proceeding of the General Department. From that year the denomination Public Works Department came to the used, though the Department itself remained a part of the General Department. In 1860 the Public Works Department became a separate Department with the Chief Engineer as its Secretary. This Department was concerned with matters of construction of roads and bridges, maintenance of Government buildings, hospitals schools, irrigation, etc.

(A) Public Works Department (General)
  • Volumes: (1855 to 1921) –21,461 volumes; (1922 to 1951) –15,267 volumes.
  • Letters from the Court of Directors: (1856 to 1859) – 4 volumes.
  • Letters to the Court of Directors: (1855 to 1860) – 6 volumes.
  • P.W.D. (Imperial) Abstracts of Proceeding: (1856 to 1894) – 49 volumes.
  • P.W.D. (Local) Abstracts of Proceedings : (1866 to 1931) – 66 volumes.
  • Post – 1920 files :-

      (i) General Series – 2,000 files.

      (ii) 27 Series – 3,600 files.

      (iii) 36 Series – 88,000 files.

      (iv) 48 Series – 1,500 files.

      (v) Tri literal Series – (1951 to 1957) – 12,215 files (MRR).

      (vi) S Series – (1922 to 1948) – 4,000 files and (1951 to 1960) – 640 files.

      (vii) P Series – (1922 to 1930 and 1934 to 1945) – 400 files; (1951 to 1960) – 130 files (MRR).

      (viii) L.C. Series – (1922 to 1930) – 1,800 files.

      (ix) L.A. Series (1937) – 125 files.

      (x) P.W.D. (D.D) files – (1920 to 1930) – 1,800 files
Reference Tools
  • Volumes Lists: (1855 to 1921) – 28 lists.
  • File Indices: (1922 to 1946) – 9 books.
  • File Lists: (1922 to 1951) – 15 lists.
  • Inward Registers: (1855 to 1911) – 107 Registers.
  • Outward Registers (1809 to 1922) – 122 Registers. [Subjects of files pertaining to Public Works Department are as mentioned in Public Works Department (General), Public Works Department (Railway), and Public Works Department (Irrigation)].

(B) Public Works Department (Irrigation)
  • Volumes: (1855 to 1921) – 3800 volumes.
  • Abstracts of Proceedings: (1873 to 1887) - 15 volumes.
Reference Tools
  • Volume Lists: (1855 to 1921) – 23 lists.
  • Inward Registers: (1875 to 1921) – 146 Registers. [From 1921, the subject was transferred to ‘Public Works Department (General)’. Since 1960, the separate Irrigation and Power Department was established.]

(C) Buildings and Communications Department
  • Tri literal files: (1958 to 1966) –21,620 files.
  • S Series: (1962 to 1964) – 106 files.
  • P Series: (1962 to 1964) – 460 files.
  • O Series: (26 files).

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT (RAILWAY)

The railway was first considered in the General Department between 1844 and 1848. From 1849 to 1860 the subject was treated as branch of the Financial Department. It was transferred to the Public Works Department on its formation in 1860.

Holding
  • Volumes: (1859 to 1921) – 7,038 volumes.
  • Letters from the Court of Directors: (1849 to 1852-55) – 5 volumes.
  • Letters to the Court of Directors: (1850 to 56) – 38 volumes.
  • Abstracts of Proceedings: (1870 to 1894) – 125 volumes.
Reference Tools
  • Volumes Lists: (1859 to 1921) – 15 lists.
  • Inward Registers: (1865 to 1902 and 1915 to 1922) – 183 Registers.
  • Outward Registers: (1860 to 1907) – 86 Registers.

INDUSTRIES AND LABOUR DEPARTMENT

The Department was created on 1st May 1960 combining the Industries Section of the former Industries and Co-operation Department and the Labour Section of the Labour and Social Welfare Department. The subjects allotted to the Department fall roughly into the two groups as suggested by the name of the Department.

Holding N.B – All Files are in Mantralaya Record Rooms.
  • General Series: 233 files.
  • ’34’ Series 644 files.
  • ‘46’ Series: 685 files.
  • ‘48’ Series: 2,448 files.
  • Tri literal Series: (1950 to 1954) – 655 files.
  • Vidarbha Files: (1931 to 1956) – about 600 files.

IRRIGATION AND POWER DEPARTMENT

As pointed out in the description of the Buildings and Communications Department of the Secretariat, the Irrigation and Power Department of the Secretariat was established in 1960 to take over part of the responsibilities of the Public Works Department of the Secretariat as it existed prior to 1st May 1960. The Department also shares with the Buildings and Communications Department the dual character of Secretariat Department and headquarters office of the executive Head of Department, but, whereas there is only one such executive Head of Department within the Buildings and Communications Department, viz., the Chief Engineer (Buildings and Communications), who has responsibility over practically the whole range of subjects allotted to the Department, there are as many as four Chief Engineers within the Irrigation and Power Department and, in addition two Chief Engineers, concerned with the Koyna Hydro-Electric Project who are purely executive officers and have no Secretariat functions.

As a Secretariat Department, the Irrigation and Power Department is concerned mainly with matters relating to : (a) irrigation and canals drainage and embankments, water storage and water power and tube wells for irrigation purposes, (b) investigation, preparation and execution of irrigation, hydro-electric and multipurpose projects, (c)preparation, execution and operation of projects for water supply and drainage when required to be done by Government agency, (d) management of completed irrigation projects, (e) administration of Irrigation Acts and betterment levies and the levy of irrigation Acts on areas commanded by projects, (f) flood control works, (g) schemes for improvement of water-logged area, (h)research in engineering, and (i) inter-State river water disputes. At present the Department is known as ‘Irrigation Department’ only.

Holding

All Files are stored in Mantralaya Record Room.
  • Tri-literal Series: (1958 to 1968) – 21,620 files.
  • ‘S’ Series: (1957 to 1968) – 106 files.
  • ‘P’ Series: (1957 to 1968) – 460 files.
  • ‘O’ Series: (1959 to 1968) – 26 files.

EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT (Now known as Education and Youth Services Department)

At the first subject ‘Education’ was a part of the General Department and afterwards it was transferred to Political & Judicial Department. The Educational Department was created in 1860 and formed part of the old General. Educational and Marine Department It dealt with primary education and secondary and collegiate education. As the work of the Department increased the General & Educational Department was bifurcated into Education and Industries Department and Health and Local Self Government Department in 1947. Again in September 1949 the Education & Industries Department was split up into Education Department and the Development Department and as a result of this matters pertaining to production, supply and distribution of goods, development of industries, etc., were taken over by the Development Department. The Education Department began to deal with matters relating to education, museums, research institutes, libraries, universities, ancient monuments, manuscripts, etc.

Holding
  • Volumes: (1825 to 1912) – 2,329 volumes.
  • Compilations: (1913 to 1921) – 6,721 compilations.
  • Letters to the Court of Directors: (1824 to 1910) – 54 volumes.
  • Abstracts of Proceedings: (1863 to 1931) – 108 volumes.
  • Post – 1920 Files

      (i) S Series – (1921 to 1936) – 4,000 files.

      (ii) P Series -- (1921 to 1936) – 1,100 files.

      (iii) L.C. Series – (1921 to 1935) – 2,326 files.

      (iv) W Series – (1947 to 1948) – 4 files (MRR).

      (v) R Series – (1949) – 160 files (MRR).

      (vi) P Series – (1957 to 1958) – 12 files (MRR).

      (vii) Ex-Hyderabad Files – (1950 to 1958) – 486 files (MRR).

      (viii) Ex-M.P. Files – (1951 to 1956) – 186 files (MRR).

      (ix) General Services – (1950) – 80 files (MRR).

      (x) Tri Series – 2765 files (MRR).
Reference Tools
  • Volume Lists: (1861 to 1864 and 1880 to 1912) – 32 lists.
  • Compilations: (1913 to 1921) – 1 list.
  • File Indices (1921 to 1936) – 3 lists.
  • File Lists: (1921 to 1936) – 1 list.
  • Inward Register: (1860 to 1921) – 120 Registers.
  • Outward Registers: (1874 to 1921) – 53 Registers.

LAW (AND FOREIGN) DEPARTMENT

These records are filed under the heading of “Law Department” only. The correspondence contained in the Records deals with establishment, staff salaries and Rules and Regulations for the Recorder’s Court in Mumbai Presidency. It is also seen from the letter, dated 7th January 1824 from the Court of Directors that the Supreme Court of Judicature with Civil and Criminal jurisdiction was established at Mumbai abolishing thereby Recorder’s Court. The Supreme Court was to consist of Chief justice who was to take rank after the Governor and two other judges who were to take rank after the members of the Governor’s Council. Sir Edward West was appointed as Chief Justice on an yearly salary of Rs.52,200 and Messers. Sir Ralph Rice and Sir Charles Harcount were appointed as Judges on an yearly salary of Rs.43,500. There are also proceedings relating to cases of corruption against General Macliod, James Stevens, Supervisor and John Agnew, Commercial Resident in the province of Malabar. The zeal and ability exhibited by the Governor and his Council in bringing this business to the Judiciary was found commendable by the Directors. In one of their letter, Directors prescribe that presents received by Company’s servants from the Natives of the rank are to be credited to Company’s Account and permit to incur expenditure for similar complimentary return.

Holding
  • Letters from the Court of Directors: (1797 to 1827) – 1 volume (No.1).
  • Duplicate Letters from the Court of Directors: (1797 to 1827) – 1 volume (No.1).
  • Letters to the Court of Directors: (1796 to 1803) – 1 volume (No.1).
  • Letters to the Court of Directors (Rough Outward): (1796 to 1803) –1 volume (No.1).
(Besides Law Department dispatches, this Series includes Foreign Department letters from 1816 to 1817)

LEGISLATIVE OR LEGAL DEPARTMENT (Now known as Law and Judiciary Department)

The Department was formed in 1862 in connection with the Legislative Council of the Government of Mumbai for making laws and regulations under the provisions of the Act of Parliament 24 & 25 Vic., Cap.67. Till the year 1907 this Department formed part of the Judicial Department.

Holding
  • Volumes: (1862 to 1942) – 4,692 volumes.
  • Files: (1820 to 1929) – 277 files.
  • General Series: (1960 to 1962) – 3,523 files (MRR).
  • 1941-52 Series: 2,018 volumes (MRR).
  • 1953-59 Series: 2,232 volumes (MRR).
Reference Tools
  • Volume Lists: (1872 to 1942) – 10 lists.
  • File Lists: (1920 to 1929) – 1 list.
  • Inward Register: (1865 to 1961) – 290 Registers.
  • Outward Registers: (1886 to 1961) – 212 Registers.

RECONSTRUCTION AND AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT (Now known as Agriculture and Co-operation Department)

In view of the tremendous increase in the work on account of the post-war reconstruction activities, ‘Grow More Food’, etc., the old Revenue Department was bifurcated into Revenue Department and Reconstruction Department early in 1945. The subjects dealt with by the Reconstruction Department were Agriculture, Rural Development, post war reconstruction, ‘Grow More Food,’ etc.

Holding

(A) Reconstruction Department.
  • Files – Post-War Reconstruction: 25 files.
  • Files – Financial Assistance (Payment of Central Grants) – 1 file.
  • Files – Pune, Satara, Solapur East Khandesh, West Khandesh, – 5 files.
  • File – Capital Goods (1947 to 1951) – 1 file.
  • Miscellaneous Subjects – 26 files.
(B) Agriculture and Co-operation Department.
  • General Series: 2,973 files (MRR).
  • Tri literal Series: 8,256 files (MRR).

FAMINE DEPARTMENT

Proceedings connected with the famine of 1876-77 in the Mumbai Presidency formed most of the proceedings of the Public Works Department. A temporary Famine Branch was attached to Revenue Department between 1896 and 1903, on account of famine during that period. A bulk of records relating to famine of both these periods is kept separately under the heading ‘Famine Department’.

Holding
  • Volumes: (1876 to 1902) – 1,845 volumes.
Reference Tools
  • Volume Lists: (1873 to 1902) – 615 volumes.
  • Inward Registers: (1892 to 1919) – 26 registers.
  • Outward Registers: (1897 to 1919) – 18 registers.

GENERAL DEPARTMENT (PLAGUE BRANCH)

This was formed temporarily between 1897 and 1910, on account of plague. Proceedings relating to plague after 1910, formed part of the proceedings of the General Department Records of this Department relate to progress reports and mortality returns of bubonic plague, medical inspection of persons coming into Mumbai by sea, rail or road, medical inspection at railway stations for bubonic plague, suggestions, reports from the plague commissioners, question whether vaccination confers immunity against plague and other germ diseases, rules governing inspection of persons arriving by sea at Ports other than Mumbai, measures for preventing introduction of plague into coast ports by native craft, orders issued by the District Magistrates under the Epidemic Diseases Act, requisition for disinfectants and disinfecting apparatuses, dispatch of lime juice from London to be utilized in India for the relief of sufferers from the plague.

Holding
  • Volumes: (1897 to 1903) – 1,560 volumes.
  • Compilations: (1904 to 1910) – 756 volumes.
Reference Tools
  • Compilation List: (1904 to 1910) – 1 list.

INDO-EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT

The Reverend Mr. Badger, who was attached to the Muskat -Zanzibar Commission, submitted to the Government of Mumbai, in his letter of 17th December 1860, a scheme for establishing telegraphic communication between India and England. This scheme was first considered in the Political Department in the years 1861 and 1862. In 1863 the subject was transferred to the Military Department, and the Branch got the denomination “Indo-European Telegraph Department”. Under the orders contained in Dispatch No. 20 (Telegraphs), dated 3rd August 1871, from the secretary of State, printed in the preamble of Government Resolution No. 233, dated 16th October 1871, Indo-European Telegraph Department, the control of the Indo-European Telegraph was transferred from the Mumbai Government to the Government of India.

Holding

(A) Indo European and Telegraph Department:
  • Duplicate Letters from the Secretary of State for India: (1862 to 1866) – 3 volumes.
  • Duplicate Letters to the Secretary of State for India: (1863 to 1872) – 5 volumes.
  • Abstracts of Proceedings: (1864 to 1872) – 9 volumes.

(B) Electric Telegraph Department:
  • Letters from the Court of Directors (1856 to 1859) – 1 volume.

MIXED RECORDS

Very often, some of the subjects are transferred from one Department to another. The subjects are transferred along with the previous files and other records. These records, when they are sent to Archives, bear nomenclatures of two Departments. Some of these records are as follows:

  • Revenue (Political) Department: (Original ‘Political’ Department) – 3 files (1916), Subject: Deccan Saranjams.
  • Revenue (Judicial) Department : (Original ‘Judicial’ Department) – 1 compilation (1913).
  • Political (Revenue) Department : (Original ‘Political’ Department)

      - File No. 295 (1914), Subject: Sind Boundaries.

      - File No. 297 (1914), Subject: Famines in Native States.

  • Revenue (Finance) Department – (Original ‘Finance’ Department) – 25 files (1926 to 1928).
  • Revenue (Development) Department – (Original ‘Revenue’ Department) – 50 files (1912 to 1919).
  • Development (Political and Reforms) Department : (Original ‘Political and Reforms’ Department) – (1929 to 1946)

      (i) General Series: 31 files.

      (ii) ‘P’ Series: 25 files.

      (iii) ‘W’ Series: 6 files.

  • Revenue (Development) Department (Original ‘Development’ Department)

      (i) ‘B’ Series: (1921 to 1924) – 145 files.

      (ii) ‘S’ Series: (1921 to 1927) – 750 files.

      (iii) 1,800 Files: (1917 to 1930).

      (iv) M.L.S. (Military Lands Scheme) Files: (1922 to 1924) – 40 files.

  • Agriculture and Rural Development Department: File No. L.A. 57 (1947).