Abstract
The Kattunaikka community of Wayanad, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), possesses a distinctive system of customary law rooted in their forest-based livelihood, social organization, and animistic belief system. Their customary norms are unwritten, orally transmitted through elders, and closely linked to traditional authority structures such as the oorumooppan (village elder). Disputes are settled through consensus-based dialogue, restitution, and reconciliation, reflecting the community’s values of solidarity and social balance. The Kattunaikka customary legal system reveals how indigenous law functions as a mechanism for social order, cultural continuity, and ecological stewardship within a forest-dependent tribal society. Despite increasing contact with mainstream institutions, their customary law remains an essential marker of identity and a vital component of their socio-cultural resilience.