Quick answer
The Uttarakhand revenue police system lets revenue officials do police work in much of the hill area. Thus, the Patwari, Kanungo, Naib Tehsildar and Tehsildar act as police there. It is also called “Gandhi Police”. Uttarakhand is the only State where it survived. However, the High Court has ordered its abolition. As a result, 1,983 revenue villages moved to regular police in October 2025. This is the position as on 29 October 2026.
Key facts at a glance
- Chief Secretary: Anand Bardhan (since 1 April 2025)
- First Chief Secretary: Ajay Vikram Singh (2000–01); first woman CS Radha Raturi (2024–25)
- Advocate General: S. N. Babulkar (since 2017, second spell)
- DGP: Deepam Seth (2026)
- Revenue police: patwari posts from 1819 (G. W. Traill); formally set up 1874; also called “Gandhi Police”
- Police law: Uttarakhand Police Act, 2007 (Act No. 1 of 2008), replaced the Police Act 1861
- LBSNAA, Mussoorie: announced 1958, set up 1959
The Secretariat and the Chief Secretary
The Secretariat at Dehradun makes State policy. Also, the Chief Secretary heads it. Below the Chief Secretary, the ranks then run in a fixed order.
- Chief Secretary
- Additional Chief Secretary
- Principal Secretary
- Secretary
- Additional Secretary
- Joint Secretary
- Deputy Secretary
- Under Secretary
Ajay Vikram Singh was the first Chief Secretary, in 2000–01. Later, Radha Raturi became the first woman Chief Secretary, in 2024–25. Before her, S. S. Sandhu served from July 2021 to 31 January 2024.
At present, Anand Bardhan is Chief Secretary, since 1 April 2025 (as on 29 October 2026). Thus, he is the 19th CS if Subhash Kumar’s two terms count separately.
Meanwhile, directorates carry out policy in the field. Their ranks run from Director to Additional, Joint, Deputy and then Assistant Director.
Division, district and below
Next, the State has two divisions, each under a Divisional Commissioner. Garhwal’s Commissioner sits at Pauri, while Kumaon’s sits at Nainital.
| Level | Officer |
|---|---|
| Division | Divisional Commissioner (Garhwal at Pauri, Kumaon at Nainital) |
| District | District Magistrate (Jiladhikari) |
| Sub-division | Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) |
| Tehsil | Tehsildar |
| Block | Block Development Officer (BDO) |
Thus, the DM is the key officer of each district. For the 13 districts and their divisions, also see the Uttarakhand districts list.
Also, the State hosts LBSNAA at Mussoorie. Its announcement came in 1958, and it began in 1959.
Advocate General of Uttarakhand
The Governor appoints the Advocate General under Article 165. The AG is the State’s highest law officer. Further, the AG must hold the qualifications of a High Court judge. Also, the AG holds office during the Governor’s pleasure.
Moreover, the AG may speak and take part in Vidhan Sabha proceedings but cannot vote (Article 177). In addition, the AG is an ex-officio member of the State Bar Council.
| No. | Advocate General | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lalit Prasad Naithani (interim govt) | 1 Dec 2000 – 5 Apr 2002 |
| 2 | Mehraban Singh Negi (first elected govt) | 6 Apr 2002 – 13 Mar 2007 |
| 3 | L. P. Naithani | 14 Mar 2007 – 15 Jan 2010 |
| 4 | S. N. Babulkar | 16 Jan 2010 – 2 Apr 2012 |
| 5 | Y. K. Uniyal | 3 Apr 2012 – 20 Mar 2016 |
| 6 | V. B. S. Negi | 11 Jul 2016 – 11 Mar 2017 |
| 7 | S. N. Babulkar (second time) | 2017 — present (October 2026) |
Thus, two people held the post twice: L. P. Naithani and S. N. Babulkar. Similarly, the Governor’s other appointments appear in the list of Governors of Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand revenue police system (“Gandhi Police”)
In much of the hill area, however, revenue officials do police work. These are the Patwari, Kanungo, Naib Tehsildar and Tehsildar. Therefore, in these areas a Patwari does the job of a policeman.
This Uttarakhand revenue police system is also called “Gandhi Police”. Moreover, Uttarakhand is the only State where it survived.
Origin
G. W. Traill created the first patwari posts in Kumaon in 1819. Later, in 1874, the system got its formal shape.
Chain of command
Also, the revenue police chain runs upward in this order:
- Patwari
- Kanungo
- Naib Tehsildar
- Tehsildar
- SDM
- DM
- Commissioner
Moves to abolish it
First, the High Court ordered abolition in 2018. Next, the Cabinet approved a phased transfer in October 2022. Then, on 21 May 2024, a Division Bench ordered abolition within a year.
Finally, in October 2025, the government moved 1,983 revenue villages to regular police. Also, the court’s wider role appears in High Court of Uttarakhand.
Regular police and the Police Act 2007
The Uttarakhand Police Act, 2007 (Act No. 1 of 2008) replaced the Police Act 1861. Under Section 9, the State Government creates Railway Police Districts under an SP. Also, Section 2(zc) defines “witness”.
Meanwhile, Deepam Seth is the DGP (2026). Besides, Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya, DGP of Uttarakhand in 2004, was India’s first woman DGP.
The police also run special drives. For example, Operation Mukti sends begging children to school. Similarly, Operation Smile traces missing children.
Exam corner: common traps
- Revenue police began formally in 1874; 1819 is when Traill created the first patwari posts.
- “Gandhi Police” means the revenue police system, not the Home Guard or Prantiya Raksha Dal.
- First AG was L. P. Naithani (interim); M. S. Negi was AG of the first elected government.
- Railway Police Districts are created by the State Government under Section 9, not by the DGP.
- Operation Mukti deals with child begging; Operation Smile deals with missing children.
What UKPSC has asked
- Which system in Uttarakhand is known as “Gandhi Police”? Revenue Police System (UKPSC Combined Lower Sub. (Pre), 2025)
- In Uttarakhand, the revenue police system was introduced in? 1874 (UK PSC APO, 2015)
- Who is the first woman Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand? Radha Raturi (UKPSC RO/ARO, Advocate General Office (Pre), 2025)
- Under the Uttarakhand Police Act, 2007, who can create Railway Police Districts? State Government (UK PSC APO, 2015)
- Which section of the Uttarakhand Police Act, 2007 defines “witness”? Section 2(zc) (UK PSC APO, 2015)
- “Operation Mukti Abhiyan” in Uttarakhand is related to? Freedom from child-begging (UKPSC Revenue Inspector, 2023)
Revise in one page
The Secretariat at Dehradun makes policy under the Chief Secretary. First CS Ajay Vikram Singh (2000–01); first woman CS Radha Raturi (2024–25). Now Anand Bardhan (since 1 April 2025). Divisional Commissioners sit at Pauri and Nainital; the DM heads each district. The Advocate General (Art. 165) can speak in the Assembly but cannot vote (Art. 177). First AG L. P. Naithani; present S. N. Babulkar (since 2017). Revenue police (“Gandhi Police”): Patwari, Kanungo, Naib Tehsildar, Tehsildar. Traill created patwari posts in 1819; the system began formally in 1874. Then came abolition orders in 2018 and 21 May 2024. Finally, 1,983 villages moved to regular police in October 2025. Police Act 2007 (Act No. 1 of 2008) replaced the 1861 Act.
In the news
- e-FIR under BNSS Section 173 — online FIRs under the new criminal procedure law.
- Uttarakhand first in ICJS 2.0 implementation — the State’s top NCRB ranking for linked justice systems.
- Drug-free Uttarakhand campaign by the ANTF — the State’s anti-drug drive, backed by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force.
- LBSNAA social media advisory for new IAS and IPS officers — conduct guidance from the Mussoorie academy.
Practise Uttarakhand Polity
- Daily 25 free practice questions — UKPSC previous-year questions, every morning.
- UKPSC previous year papers — bilingual PDFs of Upper PCS, Lower PCS, RO/ARO and more.
- UKPSC 2026 Prelims Test Series — full-length tests with detailed solutions.
Preparing for UKPSC Upper PCS, Lower PCS or RO/ARO? Join SAMVEG IAS, Dehradun. For batch details, call or WhatsApp +91 84759 04943.
Uttarakhand Polity Notes series
Frequently Asked Questions
In much of the hill area, revenue officials such as the Patwari, Kanungo, Naib Tehsildar and Tehsildar do police work. Uttarakhand is the only State where this system survived.
Gandhi Police is another name for the revenue or patwari police system of Uttarakhand. Under it, revenue officials do police work in much of the hill area.
Anand Bardhan is the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand, in office since 1 April 2025. This is the position as on 29 October 2026.
S. N. Babulkar is the Advocate General, in office since 2017 in his second spell. He first held the post from 2010 to 2012.
Radha Raturi was the first woman Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand, in 2024–25. She later became the first woman State Chief Information Commissioner.
G. W. Traill created the first patwari posts in Kumaon in 1819. The system was formally established in 1874.
Facts as on 29 October 2026. Sources: Lok Bhavan (Raj Bhavan) Uttarakhand, High Court of Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha, Election Commission of India, State departments, India Code and PIB.