13/01/2020
MANU SMRITI - IDEAS ON JUSTICE
RELEVANT TO THIS AGE? TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK
– 8:44
A king should use inference to trace the track of justice [and decide who is innocent and who is guilty] just like the hunter who, also using inference, traces the track of a wounded animal by the drops of blood.
– 8:45
When engaged in a legal proceeding, the king should pay special attention to the truth and to the reason for the dispute. He should pay special attention also to [the importance of both] himself as judge and the witnesses [aiding the process of judgment], and also bear in mind the time, place and form of the dispute.
– 8:46
The king should promulgate as law whatever has been practiced by virtuous, high-caliber souls devoted to the law. He must, however, ensure that whatever he promulgates does not conflict with [the customs of] countries, families and human communities.
– 8:63
Trustworthy people from all communities who know all their duties and who are not greedy made be made witnesses in legal proceedings; the king must, however, avoid witnesses who are of an opposite nature.
– 8:64
Those people must not be made witnesses who have received benefits from one of the parties, those who are not worthy of trust, those who are either friends or enemies of one of the parties, those whose were formerly found guilty, those who suffer from disease, or those who are corrupt.
DR. SATISH PRAKASH
