The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c10.s3.t5.4

c10.s3.t5.4

One positive law is referred to in Pillar Edict IV. (*c* B. C. 243). By it Asoka gave respite of three days to prisoners convicted and sentenced to death.² It was universally applicable throughout the Empire and calculated to bring about legislative centralization and uniformity. An imperial command to this effect was specially called for, because otherwise there might be a great diversity in administrative practice. And such diversity was naturally expected because of Asoka's custom of granting independence to the members of the civil service "in the award of honors and penalties" in order that they might "in security and without fear perform their duties". The Provincials' Edict likewise embodies the purport of a law by which officers in charge of the city were to "prevent unwarranted imprisonment or unwarranted torture of the citizens".³