Coll 25/6 'Orders in Council: Muscat: Reports on working, 1930' [‎124r] (247/266)

r
arguments - if any - against the opinion of the Punchayats*
and it is not until their arguments are heard that the Political
Agent gives his judgment.
7. The formation of these Standing Punchayats, simple as it
may appear, was something in the nature of an innovation, and
innovations in a conservative place like Muscat are not to be
lightly undertaken. 3y the time various details connected with
their establishment had been settled, and they themselves were
fairly under weigh, the year was well advanced. Thus the result
of their establishment is not as apparent in the year under
review as would otherwise had oeen the case, and the conclusion
of 19 31 must be awaited before the full results of this
experiment can be judged.
3. That the Punchayats fill a very useful role cannot be
denied. Pirst, and most important, they - under the control of
thir Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. - help to administer the law for British
Indian subjects in a way that is indigenous to the country India,
from which these subjects come - the very word Punchayat is of
course of Indian origin. As every community is represented no
party, in the unfortunate position of receiving an adverse opinion,
can say he was not represented on the 1 bench* pronouncing this
opinion, and moreover he can always adduce what arguments he likes
against this opinion in the final hearing before the Political
Agent. The proviso that the members of the Punchayats can be
changed at certain intervals is likewise a useful one. As far a s x
can be judged indeed the Punchayats are a popular institution.
Only one complaint was received, an anonymous petition to the
effect that cases were settled too quickly, and thus debtors-
against whom decisions were given - were hard put with to keep
their heads above water; Complaints that the law moves too quickly
are not common, and this petition may be taken as a somewhat naive
tribute to the extra activity which the new Punchayat system has
introduced into the Muscat Courts.
9.