Khaps, Traditional Panchayats & Indian Constitution

We have read about several honour killings in recent months in the name of saving the honour of the family. The traditional panchayats of Jaats of Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are traditionally known as khaps and most of the honour killings have been reported from these regions and from this community.

Traditional panchayats have existed in India since ancient times. They have been regulating the affairs of the community quite efficiently. The affairs included social aspects including arranging and /or participating in marriage; economic affairs including trade preferences, redistribution, gift exchanges etc., political affairs including resolution of conflicts and imposing fine on accused, as also religious affairs.

After the 73rd amendment to Indian Constitution, these traditional panchayats have been made redundant as Constitutionally elected panchayats have taken over their economic as well as political functions and without these most of the tradional panchayats have lost their hold on their respective communities.

But the same is not true for dominant castes with plenty of land ownership and strong political hold as most of these dominant castes have been included in the category of Other Backward Classes. Jaats (These must not be confused with Jaats of Punjab, who though quite affluent, are the followers of Sikhism and have totatally different outlook from the community we are concerned with) have been quite conservative particularly in terms of marriage and social relations.

Here we must not forget that community rules are meant for commoners who must follow these quite strictly or face social sanctions. The leaders, most of the times are unaware about these rules or they ignore them but the community cant dare to even point a finger towards them. Just one example will suffice. In a country where votes are cast on the bases of caste and even political parties, all of them without exception, choose candidates with constituency's caste configuration in mind, the same people chose a person to head the government who had married outside his caste, country and religion. Anyway.