The Mauryan Polity c8.s4.t3.1

c8.s4.t3.1

The *Arthaśāstra* mentions two kinds of law-courts; the *dharmasthīya* or courts where civil law was administered and the *kaṇṭakaśodhana* or the criminal court of law. Kauṭalya devotes two books² to the province of jurisdiction of these two important courts of law. A study of the nature of the cases which came under the purview of the *kaṇṭakaśodhana* court, and an examination of the functions allocated to that department lead us to the conclusion that in addition to its administrative functions, that court acted also as a police court. For, the detection and prevention of crimes as well as the award of corporal and capital punishments rested with it.