[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924) › c14.64 # Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c14.64 Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c14.64 - **Language:** English ### [c14.64](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c14.64) § 50. This description of criminal procedure of Aṭṭha-kathā is in keeping with the general procedure of republican-system of justice as preserved in Sanskrit literature. In the opinion of the author of the Mahā-Bhārata, criminal justice in a republic should be administered by experts through the President (निव्रहः पण्डितैः कार्यः क्षिप्रमेव प्रधानतः),² that the Elders of the Kula Court (= Kulaka) were not expected to connive at an offence. Bhṛigu, enumerating different judicial authorities, implies that in the case of a \*gaṇa\* the deciding body was called Kulika and also Kula.³ Kātyāyana uses \*Kula\* in the sense of a jury.⁴ The Ashta-Kulaka thus would signify a judicial council of eight members, and not, as heretofore interpreted, 'Representatives of eight clans.'⁵ - [Previous: c14.63](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c14.63) - [Next: c14.65](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c14.65) - [Up: c14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c14) ## Cites (1) - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa*vulgate.12.107.27) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c14.64](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c14.64) · Pramāṇa