Paper short abstract:

This paper attempts to apply economic principles in studying the dispute resolution among Pattinavar in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India.

Paper long abstract:

This paper critically examines the Fairness, Efficiency and Effectiveness in panchyat-based Dispute Resolution among Pattinavar , a fishing community in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India. Most of the legal disputes of Pattinavar are settled by panchayat , the village council. These village councils are different from the Pancahyat Raj Institutions of Indian administrative system. A very few cases only go to the state court. Even those cases after some progress in the state court are withdrawn and settled in the panchayat .This paper evaluates the Dispute Resolution among Patinavar using the Fairness, Efficiency and Effectiveness models. Fairness of Pattinavr Panchayat are evaluated on four elements of procedural fairness : respect, voice, neutrality, trust. Efficiency refers to the degree to which operations are done in an economical manner. Efficiency of Pattinavr Panchayat are evaluated on the basis of monetary costs and non-monetary costs. The effectiveness can be measured in a wide variety of ways depending upon the desired goals. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of Pattinavr Panchayat in terms of desired goals of human rights, governance, and the rule of law.