Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c8.s5.25

c8.s5.25

If the judges were suspected of unfairness, they could be brought to book. If they threatened, rebuked, silenced or drove out a party, they received the first amercement. Abuse brought a double punishment. Wilful delays in justice, always so exasperating, were punished with the highest amercement. The repetition of a similar offence brought dismissal and a double fine into the bargain. If the judge inflicted an unduly heavy fine, he was condemned to pay eight times the excess. If he inflicted an unjust corporal punishment, he was condemned to the same suffering, or to the payment of double the monetary equivalent. False concoction on the part of a judge in a monetary case, was punished with a fine eight times the amount involved. We are not told who should try the judges, but probably it is intended that the function should devolve on the Chief Judge or the king with his ministers.