Nyaya Panchayats cannot.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Award a sentence
Option (4) Award a sentence — Correct. Their powers stop short of punishment by a court of law: they can impose fines but cannot award a sentence. They are often successful in bringing about agreement between contending parties.
Note: The chapter ‘The Story of Indian Democracy’ of the pre-rationalised NCERT, which NTA followed in 2023, has been renamed ‘The Constitution and Social Change’ in the NCERT book (2025-26). The portion on Nyaya Panchayats is still there in the renamed chapter.
NCERT (2025-26): “…Nyaya Panchayats have been constituted in some states. They possess the authority to hear some petty, civil and criminal cases. They can impose fines but cannot award a sentence. These village courts have often been successful in bringing about an agreement amongst contending parties. They have been particularly effective in punishing men who harass women for dowry and perpetrate violence against them.” |