The Mauryan Polity c8.s4.t5.6

c8.s4.t5.6

Thus there was a gradation of the Courts of Justice ranging from the local courts of the village community to the supreme courts of judicature. The local usages and customs were respected by the central government and an appeal lay from the lower court to the higher court. Inasmuch as the king received complaints from his subjects and dispensed justice according to the nature and urgency of the case he with his councillors represented the highest court of appeal and also acted as the court with original jurisdiction over certain cases.