Hindu Administrative Institutions c12.s4.11

c12.s4.11

The minimum qualifications to seek election in these local assemblies were property qualification, or educational qualification, and sometimes both. He who owns one-fourth *veli* of tax-paying land, he who owns a house, he who owns one-eighth *veli* of land but qualified by learning one of the four *bhāṣyas*, one who is qualified to teach *mantra-brāhmaṇa*, and one who holds a share in the village and is versed at least in one of the *Dharma Śastras* and studied one whole *Veda* is eligible for election.¹ These qualifications alone are not enough, for there were the further qualifications as to age and character. None below thirty-five and above seventy-five were eligible; and those whose character and conduct was not beyond question in every manner could be members of the assembly.