An Overview Of Khap Panchayat In India

J. Janani, School of Law, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan University, Trichy

ABSTRACT

Khap panchayats are self-styled courts and community guardians of society. It preserves the ancient culture and honours the ideals of ancestors. Khap Panchayats are “custodians of honour” and have full authority among their caste. Discrimination is defended with cultural justifications. Society itself is the foremost cause of discrimination. People should live in a society which is free from crime. In a democratic country, the state’s obligation is to protect the people of the country. The reason for its dominance is the failure of state machinery to act in a timely manner. Khap Panchayats have become more powerful than elected panchayats. Khap Panchayats protect their people from outsiders and violate the rights of their people. Women are considered as commodities and have no right to speak in the Khap Panchayats. Freedoms and rights of the individuals are with the Khap panchayats. It is an illegal assembly of members to punish the wrongful social act of their society.

Keywords: Society, panchayat, discrimination, state, unlawful