Medieval justice: Kangaroo courts call the shots in TN (Times of India)
“‘Kangaroo courts are the most powerful bodies that deliver judgment on any dispute or problem. They are still prevalent in many hamlets in the southern districts. Of the 167 villages we surveyed in south Tamil Nadu, we found the “kattapanchayat” active in all of them. They take law into their hands and deliver judgment,’ said Kathir, who heads [a Madurai-based NGO called] Evidence. The organisation conducted the study in Theni, Virudhunagar, Dindigul and Sivaganga districts.
“The Evidence study revealed that among 167 villages surveyed, 73 had common courts for all castes, while 14 had separate ‘courts’ for dalits and non-dalits. Fifty-nine of these villages had separate courts for every caste in the village. These are headed by the community heads called ‘nattamai’ or ‘panchayathar.’
“One hundred sixty-one of the kangaroo courts delivered caste-based verdicts. The punishment included begging for pardon in the village square or being ostracized. In some villages, the accused were asked to hold burning camphor in his palm, or go around the village temple a prescribed number of times or sometimes, beaten or tied to the tree as punishment. The fines ranged from Rs 10 to Rs 10,000 based on the nature of the crime and place.”
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