Dharmapuri: The long-drawn legal process in settling civil disputes is forcing the public resort to the self-styled `Kangaroo courts' or Katta panchayat, which has become rampant in Dharmapuri district. These Kangaroo courts are headed by a village elder or gounder, who deal with issues relating to civil and land disputes between villagers.

Imposes fine

In a majority of cases the village gounder collects money from both sides to settle the issue amicably. In fact, the person imposes fine and takes away the money instead of providing payment to the affected persons.

Many such self-styled courts have come up in Dharmapuri town, Palacode, Harur and Pappireddipatti areas. It is reliably learnt that about 75 per cent of the cases are motivated, as the really affected persons don't come forward to prefer complaints due to fear of antagonising those involved. As a result the contents too are either exaggerated or false in nature.

In urban areas too

The interference of political and muscle power in settling disputes including love affairs, land disputes, petty and theft cases has led to the extension of Katta panchayat even to urban areas like Hosur. Instead of providing justice the whole affair turns out to be a case of looting where the person, who offers the maximum money, gets support.

Illegal arbitrators

Kandhu Vatti or lending money at high interest, which is very rampant in Dharmapuri town, has also given rise to Katta panchayat. With delay in payment, the person who offered loans resorts to harassing the persons or usurping their properties or threatening the parties involved through illegal arbitrators.

According to a senior police official, "Despite strong enforcement mechanisms and the recent court verdict the refusal of villagers to come up with complaints has made it difficult to abolish this system of extra judicial activities."

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