How Panchayats (during Mughal period) used to solve complaints of weaker sections against superior or upper castes?
Archival records of western India, especially Rajasthan and Maharashtra, include few petitions presented to Panchayat complaining about collecting taxes forcefully or the demand of begar, i.e., unpaid labour. These petitions were generally submitted by most weaker sections of rural communities. These petitions were made collectively by a community or caste group against the morally illegitimate demands of elite groups. One of these demands was excessive- tax. They considered the right of minimum basic means of life as their traditional rights. They wanted that Gram Panchayat should listen to this and ensure that the state must give them justice.
