Addressing the newly-elected sarpanches and deputy sarpanches, he said 'gram kachhahari' has the "legal power under different sections" to help resolve petty disputes at the local level.
"Superintendents of Police would be directed to transfer matters which fall under the jurisdiction of gram kachhaharis and direct the local police stations to provide assistance in resolving such cases," an official statement said here.
Training programmes should be organised for sarpanches and deputy sarpanches to make them aware about the rights of 'gram kachhaharis', he said, and asked the newly-elected representatives to take an oath that they would not consume liquor and also educate people to shun alcohol.
Panchayati Raj minister Kapildeo Kamat, Law minister Krishnandan Prasad Verma, Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and state police chief P K Thakur were present on the occasion.
