State and Government in Ancient India c19.s1.42

c19.s1.42

Jails and jailors are rather rarely referred to. The latter is called Bandhanāgārādhyaksha in the *Arthaśāstra*, where Kauṭilya tells us how he was to be punished if he took bribes from prisoners or belaboured them or did not give them their full rations. Male and female prisoners were kept in separate wards. The jail department was under the charge of Sannidhātā, who was to select sites for their location and build the necessary buildings (Bk. II. 4).