JUSTICE OF KERALA IN BEGINNING OF 1900`S
JUSTICE OF KERALA IN BEGINNING OF 1900`S Smārthavichāram (meaning 'inquiry into the conduct'), was the trial of a Nambudiri woman and fellow male adulterers who were accused of illegitimate sexual relations.[1] If the accused women was found guilty, she and the men found involved with her (known as jāran) were excommunicated from the caste (Bhraṣṭu) and banished.[2] The permission of the Mahārāja (king) was necessary to start a smārthavichāram.[3] The practice is nonexistent today and last reportedly took place in 1918.[4] Dasi Vicharam (Trial of the maid-servant)[edit ] The first stage of this trial procedure is interrogating the 'dāsi', the maid, of the accused female member. If a Nambutiri housewife (antharjanam's) was suspected of sexual misconduct then she was at first placed under restraint, and as a first step, her dāsi, a.k.a. vṛṣali, was questioned. If the dāsi should incriminate her mistress the latter is forthwith segregated and a watch set upon...