Comman lands and customary law

In 1978 villagers in Kanjhwala agitated against the partition and parcelling of their lands amongst the landless by the Delhi administration. Common Lands and Customary Law delves into the past to dispel the negative images of this rural protest built up by the media and authorities.

The author argues that communally held resources are not necessarily open to misuse and private exploitation, and the 'tragedy of the commons' is not inevitable. For this purpose she examines hundreds of court disputes in greater Punjab, an area that includes present-day Pakistan, over the past two centuries. These court disputes highlight the role of customary law and institutions of property rights devised by rural communities to induce cooperation among individuals and to discourage free riding or cheating in the use of resources held in common.

This book will interest environmental, agrarian and economic historians, and development economists. Minoti Kaul's conclusions about the role of customary law in the governing of common property resources will be of significance to policy makers and non-governmental organizations working in the fields of environmental and rural development.