|
Lakher chiefs followed a unique system for trial of cases. On the day
fixed for trial, the chief along with some elders (machas) would go to the house
of the complainant and some other machas would go to the house of the
accused. Both the house holds would entertain the judges and accompanying
people with lost of beer. Evidence would be judged in each of these places
and emissaries, leuchapas, would be shuffling between the two houses with
report from each place, till the chief and his machas could come to a
decision. Trial of cases would last sometimes a few days and would be the
occasion for participation in the procedure by all persons connected in any
manner with the matter.
If the chief could not decide a case and one of the parties asked for trial by
ordeal, such trial would be arranged. A leuchapa would take both the
parties to a stream and would hold their heads under water. One taking out
the head out of water first would lose the case. In another system of
trial by ordeal, if one complained of theft, the entire village would be
collected together. Everyone would be asked to take out some pebbles which
had been put in a pot of boiling water. After everyone had gone through
it, the palms would be examined. One having a scalded palm would be
adjudged the thief.
Generally, the chief would impose fine on the guilty in kind. The severest
fine was a mithun, priced at sixty rupees. The other fines were of the
nature of pigs, fowls, gongs, beads, etc. The fines would go to the
complainant.
The guilty had also to pay court fee, vopia, to the chief and the machas.
This generally consisted of a pig and some rice beer.
Murder
Murder was rare among the Lakhers, the few cases that occurred were mainly under
influence of liquor. Murder could be punished by killing the accused but
that would be excused only if it was done immediately. Otherwise, murder
would be tried and punished with a fine of two hundred rupees. If
the guilty was not able to pay the price, the chief could pay and the accused
would be the slave of the chief. If the chief did not come forward, the
accused would be the slave of the murdered man's brother. A murderer had
to go through purification ceremony before he would accepted back in the
society. He also would not get a wife from any respectable clan.
Theft
Theft was punishable in varying degrees, depending on the type of articles
stolen. It was a disgrace for a well-to-do man to steal, but theft by
a needy or poor was liberally viewed. If paddy or maize was stolen, fine
of five to ten rupees was imposed and a fowl would be sacrificed to get back the
spirit of the paddy or maize.
Return of the stolen paddy or maize was not insisted upon, probably on the
assumption that the thief would have required the cereals for his food.
Theft of a necklace was seriously viewed. The thief would have to return
it and pay a fine of a mithun. Theft of anything from a basket was
also considered serious and would be punished by fine of a mithun. Theft
of mithun, pigs etc. would be punished with varying fines and the stolen
animals would have to be returned.
|
