[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) › c19.23 # State and Government in Ancient India c19.23 State and Government in Ancient India c19.23 - **Language:** English ### [c19.23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.23) A number of famous jurists maintain that the king or presiding judge is to be guided by the verdict of the jury.⁴ We may therefore assume that such was actually the case. The only exception was that of a difficult case, where the jurors could not come to any definite decision. In such a case the king exercised his privilege of deciding the point according to his own view.⁵ The case of Chārudatta in the \*Mṛichchhakaṭika\* would further show that the jurors used to give their opinion about the innocence or guilt of the accused; the quantum of punishment was often left to the king.¹ - [Previous: c19.22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.22) - [Next: c19.24](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.24) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.23) · Pramāṇa