LUCKNOW: Longnath’s order is the last word for his community and his court is convened only once a year. He heads, what he calls, the ‘Highest Court’ for his Baiga tribe, a community of snake charmers, at Aagadnathpur village in Uttar Pradesh’s Auraiya district. Longnath, also the village head, in consultation with other community elders resolve all disputes — ranging from rape, murder, theft to eve-teasing and love affairs — on a single day in July-August. Also, not even a single case from Aagadnathpur and adjoining villages has ever reached even the lowest court at tehsil level.
“No one raises voice against the decision delivered at our court. Our people are not that literate, and they have full confidence in our justice system. If any case reaches the police station, it comes back to us and we take the final decision,” says Longnath. He claims that the justice system helps sensitise the people against committing crimes.
The punishments awarded are in consonance to the crime. “If two people are caught in verbal dual and abuse each other, they are asked to touch each other’s feet in public and seek forgiveness. For a serious crime, the punishments are tougher,” says Longnath.
In rape cases, the punishment is the harshest. As per the villagers, the rape accused is ordered by the judge to marry the victim but only if she agrees. Sometimes, the rape accused are externed from village for their crime. In case of a murder, the accused is made to support victim’s family financially all his life.
What adds to the uniqueness is the fact that snakes are deemed to be the highest and most sacred authority in this court. All decisions are taken in the presence of snakes. Also, the Baigas, designated as scheduled caste, swear on snakes before testifying.
“During the proceedings, witnesses and litigants are asked to swear in the name of snakes that they will only tell the truth. As per the common belief, if anyone lies after swearing on the snake, s/he is adequately punished by the snake itself. So, no one dares to tell lies,” the village head claims. However, the district administration claims to have no knowledge about the community court being run by the Baigas. “We are not in the know-how of it. It is a matter of probe after which we will be in a position to comment on it,” says a senior district official.