The Mauryan Polity c8.s4.t5.3

c8.s4.t5.3

In addition to these, the *Arthaśāstra* recognises the authority of the village courts which were self-sufficing and independent of imperial control. Here the *grāmavṛddhas* or the village elders, decided the cases arising in the village. They had magisterial functions which were binding on the villagers.¹ The State felt called upon to accept as valid every local usage, customs of the caste, community, clan, and family, every bye-law of the corporate bodies, the guilds and such other organised non-political communities.²