The whole of the district now acknowledged his sway, and it only remains to describe his system of administration. About half of the conquered lands were retained by the Maharaja under direct management as part of the Sikh royal domain (Khalsa), or farmed out in groups to persons who contracted to pay in a fixed amount of cash or grain to the State, making what they could out of the people. These were administered by Kardars or governors who exercised general jurisdiction on behalf of the sovereign.
The intimate connection of many of the leading Sikh families with the Maharaja who selected many of his bravest generals, such as Hari Singh Nalwa of Gujranwala, Misr Dewan Chand of Gondlanwala, ablest governors, such as Dewan Sawan Mai of Akalgarh, Dewan Dhanpat Rai of Sohdra, and successful courtiers, such as Jowahir Singh, Bastani, of Ramnagar, Jai Singh, Man, and Sham Singh, of Butala from this district, and the fact that the descendants of the supplanted Sikh chiefs had been allowed to succeed to part of their possessions, led to. the grant of nearly half the district in Jagir to the favourites, relatives and servants of the Maharaja, subject to military or other services and to the royal pleasure.
It is not always possible to discriminate with accuracy the position of the Jagirdars and local governors as the leading Jagirdars were often allowed to contract for the management of groups of estates outside their Jagirs, and the Kardars or governors held part of their Ilaqas in Jagir as a reward for their services.