Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c12.9

c12.9

Next, as to the jurisdiction of the courts, a धर्मास्थीय court generally decided such cases as arose from the personal grievances of one or a few individuals against another or a few other individuals, and the punishments were only in fines, these fines being not very heavy. The cases that came within the jurisdiction of a कण्टकशोधन court generally related either to matters that affected the Government, the king himself, the public at large and large bodies of men, or to such other heinous offences as murder. Though small fines were inflicted by this court for offences that were not so grave, yet the fines for the graver offences ranged up to a very high limit.