Local Government in Ancient India c13.59

c13.59

With regard to the *pañca-vāra* and gold committees, which perhaps were not annually appointed, two additional disqualifying circumstances are introduced, viz. (*a*) riding on an ass [which was a common punishment for offences against chastity, and hence implied a conviction disqualifying the candidate; Manu (XI. 202) holds driving in a waggon drawn by an ass as a sin]; (*b*) committing forgery, which was no doubt a special disqualification in regard to membership of a currency committee.