Volume : 2, Issue : 9, September - 2013

Concept of Judiciary in Ancient India

Rajendra Kumar. M

Abstract :

The ancient Indian system of social living was structured on the concept of peaceful existence based on Dharma (virtuous) principles. They had definite knowledge of law and judicial system. They cherished a hierarchy of courts such as Kula, Shreni, Gana, Adhikrita and Sasitha. Some of the foreign Jurists and historians especially the Europeans argue that there was no ‘rule of law’ in ancient India and that the ancient Indian civilisation was primitive and cannot be considered as a civlisation. They preach that there was no clear developed judicial system existed in ancient India. But the high level of civilian life attained by the ancient Indians, their development and the wealth generated which attracted the West could not be achieved without a highly effective dispute resolving system. To answer this prepositions a study of the ancient Indian system of dispute resolving mechanism has to be conducted in an impartial manner