However, irrespective of the local factors, the paramount consideration in setting up all these cantonments was the need for military camps in various strategic locations of India to establish, maintain and consolidate the rule of a foreign power Spread of diseases like, diarrhea, malaria, and venereal diseases among the troops necessitated the cantoning (insulation) of these military camps from the local population. .

The records of 19 th century British India reveal that health and hygiene of the troops was one of the major areas of concern which the rulers of the day had to contend with. This consideration coupled with the desire of an alien ruling elite to distance itself from the native population led to the development of an insulated type of character in all these cantonments which has continued till date.

While most of the cantonments came to be established in early part of 19 th century, but the characteristic civil and military administration took around seventy five years to come into the shape which is still in existence in the sixty two cantonments of the country.

Adhocism guided the early administration of all these cantonments and a large plethora of rules and regulations evolved to suit the requirements of the local administrators. Commanding officer was the incharge of both civil and military administration. To assist the commanding officer in his civil duties, a group of civil officials like sanitary officer, executive engineer, and civil surgeon were also there. He also consulted the magistrate of the district on important issues of civil and criminal administration.

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