Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c10.49

c10.49

In the Mahratta period in Central India both the parties had to pay court-fees each amounting to one-fourth of the disputed sum ². In Nepal in law-suits about debt even to this day the parties have to pay 5 or 10 per cent. of the disputed sum. If the debtor denies, the case is decided by an ordeal. The complainant and the accused each takes a rupee in his hand and strikes the earth with clenched fists, thus asserting the truth of his statements. The court receives the two rupees; in like manner 5 other rupees are given as sign that the parties submit themselves to an ordeal for the decision. The court officers receive this money; after the decision of the ordeal four other fees have to be paid which are received by the government ³. The Dharmadhikārins who prescribe the penances mostly enjoy a hereditary Vṛtti (vattan) ⁴.