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POLITY AND ADMINISTRATION
55 financially strong to meet out the requirements of the king and the subjects. Judiciary and Courts
Judiciary was of primary importance for the maintenance of law and order in the State. King was evidently the head of the same and his judgement could not be over-ruled.1 The kings were advised to refrain from inflicting severe punishments ( ati-ugga-danda ).2 Just punishment was demanded on the part of the king.3 The monks were not to approach the king directly to settle any grievances. They were required to approach the village-officer or the village-headman (i.e. gramavyā pįtaka, grāmakūta or grāmamahattara ) first, then the bhojika, thereafter the mahābaladhikṣta or amātya and lastly the king. 4 The king was to be approached only as a last resort, as his judgement would be final and the punishment inflicted by him could be the most rigorous. It evidently shows that besides the royal court, there were village-tribunals or citytribuuals, and that the appeal could be filed in the higher courts till it reached the highest, i.e. the royal court. Somadeva also informs that "cases decided in the village-tribunals or city-tribunals could be put before the king for appeal, and there was no higher court to approach to over-rule the judgement of the king.'"?
For the administration of justice the king was assisted by a chief justice at the centre designated as karaña pati.8 Under
1. NC. 4, p. 331. 2. NO. 3, p. 507. 3. See-Kāmandaka Nitisāra, II. 37; Manu. VII. 20. 4. NC. 2, p. 183; cf. Brh. Vr. 4, p. 1249. 5. Qui ( statui) faena, a tis:, AI TETT Halfa-NC. 2, p. 183; cf.
FT T a Gaga, TE: TOTTFT parauf Fit quet Halla-Bịh. VI. 4, p. 1249. 6. भोइकस्स भोइको, तस्स वि जो अण्णो उत्तरोत्तरेण जाणाविज्जति जाव पच्छिमो राय त्ति
-NC. 2, p. 182; cf. Brh. Vr. 4, p. 1249. 7. ग्रामे पुरे वा वृत्तो व्यवहारस्तस्य विवादे तथा राजानमपेयात् । राज्ञा दृष्टे व्यवहारे
alertart:-Vitiva., p. 302. 8. NC. 4, p. 305.
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