Summary
Chapter 8 of the Class 5 English NCERT textbook (Santoor), "The Decision of the Panchayat", tells the story of a farmer cheated by a cunning neighbour over well water — download the PDF to read how the village Panchayat's clever judgment exposed the trick and delivered justice.
- The Panchayat as a Village Court — The village Panchayat meets under the banyan tree at the centre of the village. The village chief hears both sides of a dispute and the members together deliver a judgment that the whole community accepts.
- A Cunning Trick and a Clever Counter — The neighbour argues he sold the well but not the water inside it. The Panchayat turns the argument back on him: if the water is still his, he has no right to store it in someone else's well and must remove it immediately or forfeit it.
- Fairness and Justice — Rather than taking sides, the Panchayat listens carefully to both the farmer and the neighbour before deciding. The outcome shows that a dishonest argument can be defeated by its own logic.
- Consequences of Dishonesty — After the judgment, the cunning neighbour is required to pay a fine and apologise to the farmer. The chapter shows that cheating does not pay and that community institutions hold people accountable.
Key points & formulas
- 01A farmer buys a field and also purchases a well from his neighbour to get water for his crops.
- 02The neighbour, trying to cheat the farmer, claims he sold only the well and not the water, refusing to let the farmer draw water.
- 03The farmer takes the dispute to the village chief, who calls a meeting of the Panchayat under the banyan tree.
- 04Both the farmer and the neighbour speak before the assembled Panchayat members and villagers.
- 05The village chief accepts the neighbour's claim — that the water was not sold — but immediately points out that he therefore has no right to keep his water in the farmer's well.
- 06The neighbour is told to remove or use up the water at once, otherwise the water belongs to the owner of the well, effectively ending his claim.
- 07The cunning neighbour is fined and made to apologise; the villagers praise the wisdom of the Panchayat.
Frequently asked questions
01What is the main story in 'The Decision of the Panchayat'?
The story is about a farmer who buys a well from his cunning neighbour, who then refuses to let the farmer use the water by claiming he sold only the well and not the water inside it. The Panchayat settles the dispute with a clever judgment.
02Why did the farmer buy the well from his neighbour?
The farmer bought the well because he needed a source of water for his fields. He already had two fields and bought a third, and the well was next to it.
03What trick did the neighbour use to stop the farmer from taking water?
The cunning neighbour claimed that he had sold only the well to the farmer, not the water in it, so the water still belonged to him and the farmer could not take it.
04What is a Panchayat and what role did it play in this story?
A Panchayat is a group of village leaders who meet to settle disputes and make judgments. In this story, the Panchayat gathered under the banyan tree, heard both sides, discussed the matter, and gave a final ruling.
05Where did the Panchayat meeting take place?
The Panchayat members gathered under the banyan tree in the centre of the village, and most of the villagers were also present at the meeting.
06What was the final judgment given by the Panchayat?
The Panchayat agreed that the neighbour had sold only the well and not the water, but then ruled that if the water still belonged to the neighbour, he had no right to keep it in the farmer's well and must remove it or use it up immediately, or the water would belong to the owner of the well.
07What does the word 'adamant' mean as used in this chapter?
In this chapter, 'adamant' means refusing to change one's mind. The neighbour was described as adamant because even after the villagers and Panchayat members tried to reason with him, he would not back down from his claim.
08What punishment did the cunning neighbour receive?
The cunning neighbour had to pay a fine and also had to apologise to the farmer after the Panchayat gave its judgment against him.
09What does the word 'prospered' mean in the story?
'Prospered' means to grow wealthy. The story says that the farmer prospered through hard work and was then able to buy another field.
10How did the farmer react when the Panchayat gave its judgment?
The farmer was relieved and gave a shout of joy when he heard the Panchayat's decision in his favour.
11Who did the farmer go to first when the neighbour refused to let him draw water?
The farmer went to the village chief and told her about the problem, after which the village chief fixed a day for a meeting of the Panchayat.
12What lesson does the chapter teach about cheating?
The chapter shows that cheating does not lead anywhere, because the cunning neighbour's clever trick was turned against him by the wise judgment of the Panchayat, and he ended up being punished instead of gaining anything.
More chapters in Santoor
Read Chapter 8 of Santoor, the Class 5 English NCERT textbook (2026-27 edition), online for free: the complete chapter as published by NCERT with every diagram, solved example and exercise, with a chapter summary, question answers and revision notes. Open the NCERT PDF above, or browse all NCERT Class 5 textbooks.
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