State and Government in Ancient India c22.s4.t5.13

c22.s4.t5.13

Jails were probably under the management of this department. There used to be jail deliveries every year on the occasion of the anniversary of the royal coronation. Aśoka refers to 25 such deliveries in his Pillar Edict No. 5. Probably criminals guilty only of minor offences were released. Capital punishment was in vogue under Aśoka even after his conversion to Buddhism; only the condemned criminals were given a respite of three days to perform religious ceremonies and give money in charity to secure welfare in the next life.