Hindu Administrative Institutions c10.s6.32

c10.s6.32

convict, the king, a *śrotriya*, village servant, lepers, out-castes, *caṇḍāla*, the self-conceited (अहंवादि), persons in low situations, women, government officials, ascetics, those versed in palmistry, merchants, robbers, cheats, swindler (शलाकधूतः), physicians, enemy or friend and minstrel.¹ But there was no hard and fast rule. Sometimes some of these appeared as witnesses. This depended more on the nature of the case in question. Members of all castes and communities were eligible to depose as witnesses.² The first preliminary was to swear as to their honesty. If all the witnesses joined together and did not give out the truth they were punished.³ The decision depended more upon the witness and especially of the elders. It was the custom to get witnesses by summons (स्वामिवाक्य). For instance the jury sent for the mother of the lady courtesan Vasantasena to adduce evidence as to her daughter in the *Mṛcchakaṭika*.⁴ Travelling and halting allowances were usually given to these witnesses and these were generally borne by the party defeated.⁵