The Sultans were very anxious to maintain the security of the state. The routine police duties were performed by the Kotwal. The force of the Kotwal patrolled the city at night and guarded thoroughfares. The Kotwal secured the co-operation of the people in the performance of his duties.

He maintained a register of the inhabitants of every quarter, kept him informed of their activities and means of livelihood and took cognizance of every new arrival and departure.

His jurisdiction extended to the rural area also. He also acted as a committing magistrate. The criminal code was severe and punishments were deterrent. In certain cases, the criminal was paraded in the city. The life and property of a rebel were at the mercy of the Sultan. Ala-ud-Din Khalji introduced the system of punishing the family of the rebel. The penal code of the Shara was applied to crimes which came under the jurisdiction of the Qazi.

There was no uniform administrative system under the Sultans of Delhi. During the 13th century, the Delhi Sultanate consisted of military commands known as Iqtas. Each Iqta was under a Muqti. When Ala-ud-Din Khalji conquered practically the whole of the country, he allowed big and small provinces to remain as they were. There were three kinds of provinces under Ala-ud-Din Khalji.

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The first kind consisted of the old Iqtas. To the second category belonged the newly conquered provinces and those were placed under military governors known as Walis. To the third category belonged the principalities of the Hindu vassals who were reduced to the position of governors.

When the Delhi Sultanate was at its height, it had 23 provinces, viz., Badaun, Bihar, Delhi, Deogiri, Dwarasamudra, Gujarat, Hansi, Jajnagar, Kalanaur, Kanauj, Kara, Kuhram, Lahore, Lakhnauti, Ma’bar, Malwa, Multan, Oudh, Samana, Sehwan, Sirsuti, Telang and Uch.