Study Material - Jharkhandi Jobs

झारखंड की पारंपरिक जनजातीय शासन व्यवस्था झारखंड की पारंपरिक जनजातीय शासन व्यवस्था

Manjhi–Pargana Governance System of the Santhal Tribe

The traditional self-governance institution of the Santhal tribe is known as the Manjhi–Pargana system. It organises social, administrative, religious and customary judicial responsibilities at village and regional levels.

Each Santhal village has a council headed by the Manjhi, while the Parganait leads a group of villages. The Pramanik or Paranik, Jog Manjhi, Godait and other village officers assist the Manjhi; the Naike and Kudam Naike perform religious duties.

Important Fact: The Manjhi–Pargana system distributes administrative, social, religious and judicial functions among distinct customary officers. Village participation, community consultation and customary norms form its foundation.

For Jharkhand GK and JSSC/JPSC exam preparation, its village officers, regional hierarchy, customary judicial institutions and legal development are especially important.

1. Principal Features of the Manjhi–Pargana System

The village is the basic unit of traditional governance.
Each village has its own council.
The Manjhi heads the village council.
Decisions are reached through community consultation.
Responsibilities are divided among different customary officers.
Unresolved village matters proceed to higher customary institutions.
Community and family life transmit social rules from childhood.
The system aims to preserve discipline, reconciliation and community unity.

Different views exist regarding the origin and regional development of the system. Its institutions and titles should therefore be understood in the context of regional Santhal traditions.

2. Manjhi: Head of the Village Council

The Manjhi heads the council of a Santhal village and is responsible for village administration, social order and customary dispute resolution.

Principal Functions of the Manjhi

Convening and presiding over the village council.
Maintaining peace, discipline and community coordination.
Hearing ordinary village disputes with elders and other officers.
Ensuring observance of customary rules.
Representing the village before higher traditional bodies.
Performing historical revenue-related duties.
Playing a community role in the establishment of marriage relations.

3. Pramanik or Paranik

The Pramanik/Paranik is the principal assistant and deputy of the Manjhi. In the Manjhi’s absence, the Pramanik performs his functions and assists in administration and dispute resolution.

4. Godait or Gurait

The Godait/Gurait acts as the village secretary and messenger. He communicates notices of council meetings, festivals and community programmes and gathers villagers at the appointed place.

5. Jog Manjhi

The Jog Manjhi assists the Manjhi in maintaining social order. He is particularly associated with the conduct of young people, youth organisation and marriage-related matters and advises the Manjhi on these subjects.

6. Jog Pramanik

The Jog Pramanik assists the Jog Manjhi in matters concerning youth organisation and social discipline.

7. Religious Officers of the Village

Naike

The Naike is the religious head of a Santhal village. He conducts worship at the Jaher Than, village rituals and ceremonies connected with festivals, agriculture and community welfare.

Kudam Naike

The Kudam Naike assists the Naike and performs particular ritual responsibilities, including duties associated in some areas with worship outside the principal sacred grove.

8. Officers Connected with Village Security

Laser Tang

The Laser Tang serves as a traditional village guard and is associated with protection during external danger or crisis.

Chowkidar

The Chowkidar performs an auxiliary police-like role and may assist in presenting an accused person before the traditional council. Under modern law, arrest can be carried out only by legally authorised officers.

9. Major Village Officers

Officer	Main Position or Function
Manjhi	Head of village administration and council
Pramanik/Paranik	Deputy and principal assistant to the Manjhi
Godait/Gurait	Secretary, messenger and announcer
Jog Manjhi	Youth conduct, social discipline and marriage-related matters
Jog Pramanik	Assistant to the Jog Manjhi
Naike	Religious head of the village
Kudam Naike	Religious assistant to the Naike
Laser Tang	Traditional village guard
Chowkidar	Auxiliary security functionary

10. More Hor or the Five Elders

The expression More Hor refers to five respected elders who participate in collective consultation. They hear the parties and help the village council reach a consensus-based decision.

11. Bhagdo Praja

The Bhagdo Praja is a body of senior and experienced villagers consulted before an important decision or the settlement of a dispute. Customary service land may be attached to certain traditional offices in some regions.

12. Parganait

The Parganait heads a group of villages and coordinates inter-village administration and customary justice. Some regional accounts describe groups of about 15–20 villages, although the number is not uniform.

Principal Functions of the Parganait

Leading the council of a group of villages.
Hearing matters unresolved at lower levels.
Resolving inter-village disputes.
Maintaining coordination among Manjhis.
Protecting customary norms and regional community unity.

13. Desh Manjhi or More Manjhi

The Desh Manjhi, called More Manjhi in some areas, assists the Parganait and coordinates matters involving a smaller cluster of villages. A matter unresolved by the village Manjhi may proceed through the Desh Manjhi to the Parganait.

14. Disom Pargana

The Disom Pargana is a higher territorial authority whose jurisdiction may extend over several Parganas. Matters unresolved by a Parganait council may be placed before it.

15. Hierarchy of the Manjhi–Pargana System

Level	Institution/Officer	Main Role
Village	Manjhi and village council	Local administration and dispute resolution
Small village cluster	Desh Manjhi/More Manjhi	Coordination and intermediate hearing
Pargana	Parganait	Inter-village administration and appeals
Higher territorial level	Disom Pargana	Matters extending over several Parganas

16. Lo Bir Sendra

The Lo Bir Sendra is regarded as the highest traditional judicial assembly in the Manjhi–Pargana system and considers grave matters affecting the wider community.

Important Fact: The Manjhi Baisi is regarded as a high advisory council, while the Lo Bir Sendra is regarded as the highest traditional judicial assembly.

17. Traditional Dispute-Resolution Sequence

A dispute is first placed before the village council and the Manjhi.
The Pramanik, other officers and village elders participate in deliberation.
An unresolved village matter proceeds to the Desh Manjhi.
It may then be placed before the Parganait council.
If unresolved at Pargana level, it proceeds to the Disom Pargana.
Exceptionally serious community matters go before a higher traditional assembly.

18. Karela Penalty

The Karela penalty is regarded as a relatively minor form of customary economic penalty. Its historical amount varies by period, region and the nature of the matter.

Legal Note: A historical customary amount is not a present legal fine. Any enforceable penalty today must conform to the Constitution and applicable law.

19. Bitlaha

Bitlaha was a severe historical social punishment in Santhal society and could involve social exclusion for grave customary offences. Historical accounts also refer to apology, a community feast and restoration after community acceptance.

Constitutional Caution: Social boycott, violence, damage to property or coercive punishment cannot replace lawful judicial procedure. Every person is entitled to equal protection under the Constitution and applicable law.

20. Yule Rules and Legal Development

After the Santhal Hul, a distinct administrative arrangement developed for the Santhal Parganas. The Yule Rules of 1856 gave importance to traditional Manjhi leadership in that administrative structure.

The Santhal Parganas Tenancy (Supplementary Provisions) Act, 1949 later recognised local designations for a village headman, including Pradhan and Manjhi. Section 4 defines “village headman”, while Section 9 makes the office non-transferable.

Verified Legal Fact: Section 4 of the SPT Act, 1949 includes local designations such as “Pradhan, Manjhi or otherwise” in the definition of village headman. Section 9 makes the office of village headman non-transferable.

Important Points for JSSC and JPSC Examinations

The Manjhi–Pargana system belongs to the Santhal tribe.
The Manjhi heads the village council.
The Pramanik or Paranik is the Manjhi’s deputy.
The Godait functions as secretary and messenger.
The Jog Manjhi supervises youth conduct and social discipline.
The Naike is the village religious head.
The Parganait heads a group of villages.
The Desh Manjhi functions at an intermediate territorial level.
The Disom Pargana is a higher territorial authority.
Lo Bir Sendra is regarded as the highest traditional judicial assembly.
The Yule Rules date to 1856.
The SPT Act, 1949 gives legal recognition to local village-headman designations.

Quick Revision

Tribe	Santhal
Village head	Manjhi
Deputy village head	Pramanik/Paranik
Secretary and messenger	Godait/Gurait
Youth discipline officer	Jog Manjhi
Religious head	Naike
Head of a group of villages	Parganait
Intermediate territorial officer	Desh Manjhi/More Manjhi
Higher territorial authority	Disom Pargana
Highest traditional judicial assembly	Lo Bir Sendra