Hindu Administrative Institutions c6.s2.24

c6.s2.24

What were the ends that the ancients sought to attain by propounding a mixed constitution like this? It was already shown that general principles of law were formulated beforehand and were taken for granted as established; and hence the rule of the king was to be the rule of the law and the government of law. But this law was not of the universal and comprehensive type. It was law in the sense that it provided certain recognized regulations for the maintenance of order in society. Any law presupposes a community of people or society. In this context we must not confound state with society or society with state. Both society and state were separate entities, and independent organisms.¹ Each of these had its own sphere of functioning and activity, its own structure and growth. The state did not always interfere with the social activities and organizations. But this was not absolute non-interference. The state certainly interfered with society whenever and wherever it was necessary. The policy of the state was, in other words, individualistic in character. That means the sphere of governmental activity was limited to a considerable extent.