Social and Political System of the Nocte Tribe in Arunachal Pradesh

Social and political system of Nocte has a well defined structure. Nocte society is patriarchal society. Father is the head of the household, thus occupy central position in the family. Mothers play a supporting role in the family along with the father. The society is patrilineal in the sense that lineage and descent are traced through the father’s line. Eldest son is the sole owner of all the movable properties and ancestral home along with other properties. Woman has very limited rights over property. The eldest daughter has right over her mother’s ornaments which are brought by mother from her maternal home during marriage. Younger sons and daughter has no right over any property. The important feature of Nocte political system is chieftaincy which is hereditary and where the chief hold the executive and judicial power and govern the land with the help of his council of ministers. The chief and councils are guided by customary law for any kind of decisions, both civil and criminal. Every individual has to abide by the customary law and whoever disobeys it is punished accordingly.