Administrative System of the Marathas c19.s11.1

c19.s11.1

We have seen that capital punishment was not inflicted even for murder during the administration of Shahu Chhatrapati and Balaji Baji Rao. But the two Madhava Raos not only condemned offenders convicted of treason, murder, causing grievous hurt, dacoity and theft, to death, but sometimes caused them to be mutilated. Robbers and thieves were mercilessly deprived of their hands and feet. Here, of course, we find the revival of the old principle of removing the offending limb recommended to the Hindu kings by the compiler of Manu's code, in bygone days of antiquity. Among the papers of the second Madhava Rao have been preserved long lists of convicts condemned to lose their hands and feet.