Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c9.70

c9.70

**Courts, Secretariat, and Prison.** The *Sannidhātā* is also charged with the duty of constructing three other important government buildings: (1) Courts of Justice with accommodation for litigants, and lock-up for accused (*Dharmasthīyaṁ tatra dharmasthā* *vyavahārārthaṁ āgatānāṁ avasthityārthaṁ vyavahāra-parājita-nirodhārthaṁ cha sthānaṁ*); (2) Secretariat Buildings, with accommodation for (a) Offices of Ministers who are Heads of Departments like the *Samāhartā* and *Sannidhātā*; (b) for Ambassadors; and (c) for persons secured in the course of war (*viśvāsādhitvena gṛihītānāṁ yuddha-parigṛihītādīnāṁ*); (3) Prison-House (*Bandhanāgāra*) with separate accommodation for Male Wards and Female Wards, and with cells (*kaksha*) whose exits are well guarded (*vibhakta-strīpurushasthānaṁ apasārataḥ suguptakakshyaṁ*).