History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c12.s1.25.4

c12.s1.25.4

But in spite of his vigilance corruption existed in the administration. The officers were venal and, perhaps, bureaucratic opinion did not concern itself with fostering public probity, for Ibn Batūṭah himself a judicial officer, personally known to the Sultan, was asked to pay a bribe by a fellow officer who was afterwards severely punished when the Sultan came to know of his dishonest intentions.¹³⁵ The Sultan constituted himself into the Supreme Court of Appeal, and was ever ready to give prompt redress to the aggrieved persons, and provided every facility to the suitors, who wished to lay their cases before him. No class was sacrosanct in his eyes, and the privileged orders received no indulgence from him. Notwithstanding the shortcomings that have been pointed out before, the ceaseless activity of the administration was in a large measure due to the energy and intrepidity of the Sultan. He undertook works of public utility; hospitals, schools and monasteries were established for the relief of the poor. The monasteries had a regular staff of officers to carry on their manage-