Administration and Social Life under Vijayanagar c6.81

c6.81

Another function that devolved on the king was the administration of justice. The Vijayanagar kings fully realised that the coherence of the society depended on daṇḍa (punishment). They were anxious to redress the grievances of the people and do them justice. The king was the highest court of appeal, and when the lower courts failed to do justice to the litigant, the sufferer could appeal to the king who dispensed justice. Cruel punishments were generally deprecated.⁴⁷