The Deputy Commissioners heads the district administration at the district level and report directly to the Commissioner Nagaland. All other administrative officers come under their respective Deputy Commissioners. They also head the district in all spheres. The duties assigned to a Deputy Commissioner are mainly to maintain law & order in the district, ensure that all development projects in the district are as per the guidelines laid down by the Government/ implementing agencies, ensure smooth coordination between various departments including Police and Security Forces such Assam Rifles, BSF, CRPF etc in the district, etc. They head a number of various committees and bodies, some of which are District Rural Development Agency (Under RD), District Mission Authority (DMA under SSA), District Level National Rural Health Mission, District Sports Council, Vice Chairman of District Planning and Development Board, etc. Under the Financial and Cognate Rules 1964, Deputy Commissioners are empowered to appoint to various posts under their jurisdictions at the Grade-III and Grade-IV levels.
The Deputy Commissioner is charged with the Powers of Executive Head of the District Administration. Daily controlling of Law & Order situation in close Co-ordination with Police & Paramilitary Forces for maintenance and Prevalence of Peace and Tranquility in the District. Controlling and Supervising daily functions of the Village Councils, VDB Municipal’s and Town Councils in the District. In Co-ordination with the Heads of Development Departments for execution of various Schemes/Projects in the District.
The Deputy Commissioner is the Chairman of District Security Co-ordination Committee/District Collector/District Magistrate. He is also the Session Judge in matters of Criminals case where he can award Death Penalty to Culprits. As per Police Manual the Deputy Commissioner is the Head of Police Administration in the District.
The Deputy Commissioner of the District in Nagaland (Naga Hills) is empowered by Section No.14 of the Rules for Administration of Justice and Police in Naga Hills Act 1937 amended in 1984, to impose unlimited amount of Collective Fines on Community/Village.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of a Sub-division:
The ADC of a sub-division is the overall authority of the sub-division in administrative matters. Depending on the size and structure of the sub-division, there may be one or more SDO (C) sub-divisions and/or one or more EAC Circles under the ADC headed by SDO (C) or EAC as the case maybe. Powers and duties are similar, though on a smaller scale, like that of a DC of a district.
Sub-Divisional Officers of a Sub-division:
In short known as SDO (Civil), these posts are usually mend by officers of Civil Services at the level of Higher Junior Grade officers of the NCS or Junior Grade officers of the IAS, i.e., in the rank of an Under Secretary at the Civil Secretariat. SDO (C) are responsible for maintaining law and order in their sub-divisions, ensuring that developmental activities are implemented as per the guidelines, coordinate security related activities and also between the activities of various departments in the sub-division, etc. Their duties and responsibilities are similar to that of the EACs, except that they look after a sub-division.
Extra Assistant Commissioner of a Circle (EAC):
The powers of duties of an EAC can be easily understood from the charter of duties which are as laid down below:
Law & order monitoring and reporting, thereof.
Settlement of village land disputes.
Trail of cases.
Village Council elections
Verification & Certification for new village recognition.
Village visit: 2 villages in a month and submission of report with their finding and observation.
Office correspondence.
Disaster Management
Verification & Certification of projects under LADP
Verification & Certification of projects under Rural Development
Verification & Certification of persons while issuing of Job Cards under NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee, Act) programmes and issue certificates after verification of jobs/works carried out under the programme.
Verification of Programme/Project implementation under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)
Verification of Programme/Project implementation under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)
Verification & Certification of projects carried out by the VDBs under their respective jurisdictions
Verification & Certification of projects under NEPED
Verification of PMRY and CM Corpus fund schemes
Caretaker of Community Information Centers in their jurisdiction
Verification & Certification of all Communalized programmes
The powers and duties of administrative officers are as described in the Rules for Administration of Justice and Police in Nagaland, 1937, wherein, Policing, Criminal Justice, Civil, and Arms and Ammunition rules are defined. However, with the Separation of Judiciary from the Executive, most judicial powers have been transferred to the Judicial System. The Executive Magisterial powers being still vested with the District Administration.
The district administration is responsible for grant of permits only of the following categories:
Inner Line Permits (ILP):
To non-local Indian citizen for entry into the state beyond the Inner Line. There are two categories under this permit, the first is for tourist and is valid for 15 days. The second is for working/business persons and is valid for 3 (three) months. Fees as prescribed by the Government are charged depending on the category of permit applied for.
Special Inner Line Permit (Special ILP):
To non-local Indian citizen Catholic Christian Missionaries for entry into the state beyond the Inner line.
Gun License:
At present Issuing of Gun Licenses is banned all over the state, though, this was earlier issued by the district administration.
Gaon Buras (GB) Corpus Fund:
GBs are village elders authorized by the Government to act as assistant to DCs in village/colony administration. They have been playing a vital role in the Governance of the state since the time of British India and still are a vital component of the Government.
https://www.nagaland.gov.in/portal/portal/StatePortal/GovernmentAndPrivateBodies/Department_of_Home_Department-District_Administration