Tribal Customs Law and Justice: A Teleological Study of Adis

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Arunachal Pradesh, the erstwhile North- East Frontier Agency, got the status of a full-fledged state on August 15, 1975. The system of law in the state possesses many significant and interesting features deserving attention and scrutiny not only from an anthropological point of view but also from a legal perspective. There are some twenty major tribes in the State with each having diverse customs and cultures.

In this book an endeavour has been made to study the administrative and legal development in the State of Arunachal Pradesh with special reference to the Adi Tribe. The Adis are sensitive by nature and proud of their heritage. They have a rich culture and an age-old set of customary laws. An objective approach towards their lifestyle, custom, culture, religion and belief throws new light on their inner world.

This book, Tribal Custom, Law and Justice: A Teleological Study of Adis, embodies as a special characteristic an analytical analysis of the legal aspects of the lesser known Adi Tribe of the State of Arunachal Pradesh.

DR. MANJUSHREE PATHAK (b. 1951) is an Advocate practising in the Gauhati High Court. She completed her college education from Cotton College, Guwahati and did her LL.M. and Doctorate in Law from Gauhati University. She is the first woman from Gauhati University to get an LL.M. degree and is the first in the entire North-East region to get a Doctorate degree in Law. She taught for a short period in the Department of Law, Gauhati University and also worked as the Principal of Dispur Law College, Guwahati. She developed a keen interest in creative writing from her college days. She had been honoured with the 'Monika Barua Memorial Trust Award' for best legal writing on women in the year 1998 and she has also been the recipient of the award for the best article writing organised by the Assam Lekhika Sangha. She was a column writer on 'Woman and Legal Awareness' in Pubali, an Assamese magazine. Besides, her legal and literary publications have appeared in various newspapers and magazines from time to time. She is also involved with different social activities striving for the upliftment of the weaker sections of the society.

The first edition of this book was conceived in 1991 with a view to provide detailed information about the administrative and constitutional provisions governing administration of justice in the state of Arunachal Pradesh with special reference to the Adi, a lesser known tribe of the state. The endeavor was also made to cover all the aspects of the customary justice including the civil and criminal systems prevalent in the state with a comparative study with other tribal dominated areas of the world.

It is gratifying to note here that the first edition has been received very well response both in national and international fields. Several research scholars and academic luminaries have favorably reviewed this book.

Many legal, administrative and social changes have taken place in the state of Arunachal Pradesh since the publication of the first edition. Hence, in this second edition. I have taken all possible care to incorporate all the relevant enactments and notifications pertaining to the state of Arunachal Pradesh. A sincere attempt has been made to improve the subject of the book keeping the changed circumstances in mind and with the hope that the second edition will be as useful and popular as the first edition.

It is a matter of great pleasure and privilege for me to introduce this second edition of Tribal Customs, Law and Justice", A theological study of Adis, written by Dr. Manjushree Pathak, Advocate of the Gauhati High Court.

North-east India, comprising the seven States of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur. Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, is a typical mountainous tract inhabited by a large number of tribes, and has been one of the legendary places of the Earth. It is the homeland of a bewildering variety of tribal life. The tribal people of North East have their gallantry customs, habits, laws, beliefs, politics and history. which form a rich mosaic of India's Folk life. "Abor" (now called "Adi") is one of such Tribes of the State of Arunachal Pradesh. The Britishers also did not disturb the personal laws and customs and usages of Tribes and the Union Government also re-enacted and incorporated all the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935 upholding separate administration in tribal areas, particularly in the North-Eastern region. Besides, In the Sixth Schedule other special provisions are also made for ensuring continuance of administration in tribal areas according to their own customs and usages.

In this book Dr. (Mrs.) Pathak has explored and documented the customary laws of the Adi Tribe. It contains a wealth of information about the customs and post- independence Adi society and authentic research, field study of the life of Adi Tribe, which is a splendid contribution on the subject. The expert scanning of the scholarly pieces of unique work deserves appreciation.