Chosen from the ranks of the darogha administrators of the zenana, the mahaldar was responsible for maintaining order in this large community of women.
These special services included the management of the other ranking administrators, and reporting conflicts and intrigues from the zenana directly to the Emperor.
[citation needed] Often, princes in the royal entourage would avoid the mahaldar, or have ongoing conflicts with her, fearing her reports.
[3] One example of this is Hamida Banu, mahaldar in the mahal of Mohammad Muazzam, who complained to the Emperor, Aurangzeb that his son was undermining her authority by confiscating her pen-case and memorandum-book, when he retired to his room with his women.
[1] During Jahangir's reign this post was held by a certain lady named Dilaram, who had nursed Empress Nur Jahan in her childhood.