Caste in India: The Facts and the System c6.s7.15

c6.s7.15

The extent of these varies in accordance with circumstances, but they appear in general to act as representing the whole caste and invested with its plenary authority. Called together by the chief, spontaneously or on the invitation of several members, they alone are qualified to make decisions in collaboration with him in grave cases—such as temporary or absolute exclusion and disputed points of common law. All the men old enough to conduct their own affairs are summoned to it. The right to be represented by proxy in the discussion and in the vote is not admitted everywhere. Questions are decided finally by the majority of votes; but, for want of an effective power of coercion, it happens that parties more or less equal in numbers come to a deadlock, thus holding the point at issue in suspense.