History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.117.7
History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.117.7
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v4.c63.117.7
23) say that disputes between those who have performed austerities or between those who are adepts in witchcraft and Yoga should not be decided by the king (unaided), but with the help of those learned in the three Vedas, as otherwise they may feel offended. These quotations show that certain people could claim to be tried by their peers or at least by a jury. This jury system was resorted to for settling complicated questions of fact. It is a very ancient system, being mentioned even by Gautama³⁸³ XI. 21-22 'the king, having received help from the heads of husbandmen, merchants, cow-herds, money-lenders and artisans as regards disputes in their own groups, should finally decide what is just'.