The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c10.s1.t3.8

c10.s1.t3.8

It can legitimately be generalized from over a dozen Chola inscriptions bearing on a Tamil village near Conjeeveram that the village *sabhâs* had in their hands full responsibility for the entire administration of the rural areas.³ The South Indian *panchâyats* were absolute proprietors of the village lands, with rights of ownership over newly cleared lands. They had authority to fine, in case of delinquency, the "great men of the year", i. e. the elected officials of the rural commune. They "received deposits of money and grants of land for charitable purposes, and administered the trust by a board of commissioners specially appointed for the purpose from year to year". They received all the taxes and had the right to render villages tax-free, and if necessary could grant to landholders an exemption from customary dues. Sometimes an independent corporation e. g. that of temple authorities was endowed with jurisdiction over certain lands by the ordinances of the village *sabhâs*.