Khap Panchayat:
Khap Panchayats are sometimes seen in the news for multiple reasons, with some leaders advocating for progressive reforms to address key social and economic issues, including unemployment, education, and rural development.
- Efforts are also being made to modernise and regulate Khap Panchayats, integrating them into formal Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) systems for better governance and accountability.
- Khap Panchayats are traditional community-based councils primarily in North India, especially in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, that function as informal judicial bodies.
- Originating centuries ago, they were formed among kinship groups (Khaps) to address social and governance issues within their communities.
- The system played a significant role in maintaining social order in rural societies, acting as a forum for conflict resolution within caste hierarchies, and operating parallel to formal legal systems while prioritising customary norms.
