[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [State and Government in Ancient India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949) › c19.19 # State and Government in Ancient India c19.19 State and Government in Ancient India c19.19 - **Language:** English ### [c19.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.19) The most interesting feature of the judicial administration was the system of jury. Even the king and the chief justice could not begin the trial of a case, if they were not assisted by a panel of three, five or seven jurors.¹ The number of jurors was deliberately kept uneven to provide for the contingency of a difference of opinion. The jurors differed from their modern counterpart in an important respect; they were to be not only impartial, but also well grounded in the law.² They were to be fearless exponents of what they believed to be the correct legal position. A juror keeping prudent silence has been condemned. If necessary, the jurors were to express their opinion, even if it was in opposition to that of the king; it was their duty to restrain a wilful king going astray and giving a wrong decisions.³ - [Previous: c19.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.18) - [Next: c19.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.20) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.19) · Pramāṇa