Role of Mughal Panchayats
i. The village panchayat was an assembly of elders, with hereditary rights
ii. In mixed-caste villages, the panchayat was usually a heterogeneous body
iii. The panchayat was headed by a headman known as muqaddam or mandal. ,chosen through the consensus of the elders and zamindar
iv. Headmen held office as long as they enjoyed the confidence of the village elders.
v. The chief function of the headman was to supervise the preparation of village accounts, assisted by the accountant or patwari
vi. The panchayat derived its funds from common financial pool.
vii. Expenses for community welfare activities such as digging a canal, tiding over floods were also met from these funds.
viii. They ensured conduct of the members of the village community.
ix. Panchayats also had the authority to levy fines and inflict more serious forms of punishment like expulsion from the community.
x. Caste or jati in the village had its own jati panchayat.
xi. In Rajasthan, Jati Panchayats arbitrated civil disputes between members of different castes.
xii. Rajasthan and Maharashtra – contain petitions presented to the panchayat complaining about extortionate taxation
xiii. Any other relevant point Any eight points to be explained
