Administration Of Justice In Ancient India

This book deals with different stages of development of indian low over the centuries and gradual replacement of old and obsolete rules by growing usage and customs leading to new innovations. Low has been altered, improved and refined from time to time. The author admirably focusses that an effective judicial set up is possible only when changes in low are in harmony with the existing environment and are responsive to the prevailing ideas and requirements. Low,since ancient times,has been an instrument of social engineering adepted accoeding to the needs of a given period, keeping pace with the changing society.

The richness of Indian culture has left its stamp in all institutions designed by the mind of ancient India, and the judicial system formulated by ancient India is no exception to this general rule. Ancient India employs the term 'Dharma' to signify the concept of law, and this law is comprehensive in character in as much as it brings under its orbit not only the laws of physical science, but also social laws, which the experience, wisdom and intuition of highly developed personalities could discover as unalternable. Though the body of laws or 'Dharma' was traditional in character and from that point of view could not be altered by direct changes introduced by the State, yet law was continuously being made by the judges through interpretation. The institution of justice depended much on the part played by the jury and the jury was appointed from members of the society having proven character and command over law. All cares were taken to keep the judiciary free from the influence of the monarch and other powers of vested interest. The procedure of criminal law was equally significant. No one was exempted from punishment and it was also prescribed that if persons of a responsible position and social status and officers in the administration commit an offence they were required to undergo punishment more severe than that meted out to an ordinary citizen committing the same offence.Though ancient India had stated much about criminal justice and judiciary system, no author has as yet made an attempt to collect all the available materials from ancient Indian texts and give a comprehensive and exhaustive treatment of the system of administration of criminal justice as prevalent in ancient India. Starting from an analysis of the evolution of law and kingship, as recorded in Ancient Indian smrti texts, the epics and the puranas. Dr. Chakraborty has proceeded to expound the theory that was floated by ancient India- the theory that the king was considered to be the fountain head of justice. A detailed treatment of different stages of trail has found place in this work enhancing its value as a source book. Different types of evidences such as document, witness and conduct has been analysed.The author has shown how ancient India did formulate a clear-cut definition of Crime beginning from defamation and ending with criminal assault and murder and prescribed appropriate punishments for those crimes.

In a civilized world human being created some rules and regulations for a peaceful, happy and prosperous living. In order to understand the above topic in proper historical perspectives an attempt has been made to collect important works on the subject of the study. Today the legal system is at cross roads. How can this study stimulate original Indian thought process on the subject is the aim of this exercise. Contents: Introduction, Judicial System in Ancient India, Nature and Perspective of Law in Ancient India, Judicial System in Medieval India, Social Justice in Medieval India, Culture and Law, Growth of the Judiciary, India and International Law, Law, Lawyers and Judges, Inter-State Relations, Independence of Judiciary and Access to Justice.