The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c10.21

c10.21

The *sabhâ* in each of the three stages of political jurisdiction can be taken as a deliberative or legislative body, as an executive council or committee, and even as a judicial assembly or court of justice. Unless the technical sense is clearly indicated, and except where the functions of government have been differentiated into distinct organs, the three territorial assemblies, the *grâma-sabhâ*, the *nigama-sabhâ*, and the *mantri-sabhâ* may be treated indifferently as *comitias* of the legislature, the executive or the judiciary (of the village, the town, and the nation respectively). Normally speaking, Hindu *sabhâs* are administrative or governmental councils of an all-round comprehensive character.