Local Government in Ancient India c13.80

c13.80

It is interesting to note that the rules of attendance at such public meetings and the rules of debate are also indicated in some of the Smṛtis. The rules of attendance are considered by Nārada (X. 3) to be as essential to the guild as its religious and secular laws which are to be respected by the king. The *Vīramitrodaya* (cited by Jolly) explains these rules as 'the duty of attending in a temple or other public hall for the affairs of the community (*samūhakāryārtham*) when the sound of a drum or other instrument (*mṛdaṅgādi*) is heard.' Thus these sounding instruments did duty for a 'whip' in these olden times. Kātyāyana (quoted in the *Vivādaratnākara*, p. 179, Bib. Ind. ed.) gives some further rules which supplement those of the South Indian inscription cited above. While, according to the latter, the obstructionist at a public meeting is fined, according to Kātyāyana, the unfair obstructions to speakers are also to be fined, as also unfair speeches. Speeches embodying 'fair comments' seem to have been considered as privileged, for the authorities taking action on them against the speakers are themselves to be fined.