Known for their controversial diktats, Haryana’s Khap Panchayats, now want status of lok Adalats.
The leaders of a Khap Panchayat on Monday met Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki putting forth the demand that the status of lok Adalat should be given to Khaps.
The Kandela Khap Panchayat leaders from Haryana also demanded amendment in Hindu Marriage Act, implementation of Swaminanthan report and solution to long–pending SYl canal issue.
The Khap has also threatened to protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi if their demands are not met soon.
Talking to the mediapersons after the meeting, Tek Ram Kandela, president of Kandela Khap said, “We have demanded that the status of lok Adalat should be given to the Khaps. The Khaps have been resolving many disputes among various communities since long and in the larger public interest, status of lok Adalats should be given to the Khaps.”
“In courts, many years are wasted to settle a dispute... Thus, we have demanded Khaps being given status of lok Adalats,” he said.
About amendment in Hindu Marriage Act, he said that we have demanded amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act to prohibit marriages in the same gotra (clan) and within the same village as this leads of dispute in the communities.
Demanding the implementation of Swaminanthan report, he said that BJP had promised to implement it during elections and thus, the party should fulfill its promise for the welfare of the people.
He added that the Governor has assured them to look into the demands.
The Khap leader has also threatened to begin an agitation if the demands are not fulfilled soon.
In Haryana, the Khaps are high influential caste groupings but have gained notoriety in the past with their controversial diktats against same gotra (sub-caste) marriages, uses of mobile phones and other issues.
In recent years, khap panchayat decisions have led to honour killings after objections were raised, particularly against couples from the same gotra getting married. Affected families have faced social boycotts and turned out of villages after some khaps arbitrarily ruled against them even at the cost of going against the law.