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ADMINISTRATION OF KALINGA
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viz., the Nagara-vyāvahārikas and the Prādesikas, who too performed the functions of a judge. As there were thus three classes of officials in one and the same province, who performeil judicial in dilition to other duties, uniformity in respect of vyāvahūra and danda was not possible. The administration of justice could not, consequently, be expected to be uniform even so far as the people of one province were concerned. This was a veritable evil and Asoka tried to remcde it by handing over to the Rājukas the sole charge of judicial administration and by relieving the other two classes of officials of this duty. Hence, he could with great relief say—“Just as one feels confident after making over his offspring to a clever nurse, saying unto himself—the clever nurse desires to bring up my offspring, even so have i appointed the Rājukas for the welfare avd happiness of the people of the provinces (hevari mamā lājukā kațā jānapadas it hita-sukhāye) in order that they may perform their duties with self.confidence and without any fear and perplexity.” This might also be taken as an indication that, prior to that, the Rājukas had not a free hand as they had to work under constant fear of interference from higher authoritics -- possibly the King and his Deputies.
Delegation of judicial authority to the Rājukas may not mean, however, that the Dharma-mahämātras and corresponding State-officials in a province ceased to help them in the execution of their duties as Judges. This may only indicate that in order to avoid pressure of work upon himself, and hence delay in judgement, Asoka delegated his powers to the Rājukas as the final court of appeal in so far as the provinces were concerned (May be, except the home-province of Magadha).
The Kautilya Arthaśāstra? mentions two kinds of 1. III, 1.
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