Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c14.62

c14.62

A careful record was kept of the decisions of the President on the 'rolls' ('Paveni-patthakān') in which the particulars of crime and punishment awarded to the citizens, found guilty, were entered. Preliminary enquiry into the case was held in the Court of the Justices (Vinichchaya-Mahāmāttas), who evidently were the regular court for civil causes and ordinary offences. The Court of Appeal was presided over by "Vohārikas"—'Lawyer-Judges.' The High Court had its Judges called the Sūtra-dharas or 'Doctors of Law.' There was yet a council of Final Appeal, called the Court of the Eight: Ashta-kulaka (§ 50). Any of these successive Courts could pronounce a citizen innocent and acquit him.¹ And if all the Courts held him guilty, the matter was still subject to the decision of the members of the Executive Cabinet mentioned above.