Report No. 77

3.16. Criminal procedure.-

As to judicial procedure in criminal cases, the law-givers seem to have been aware of the presumption of innocence, there are texts which forbid conviction merely on suspicion.1 Rules for the evaluation of evidence of various classes of witnesses are met with. The famous Sanskrit play Mrichhakatikam has an interesting trial scene that reveals stages of procedure not very different from a modern criminal trial.

1. Kane History of the Dharmasastra, (1973), p. 521.

3.17. Perjury.-

Perjury and other offences by witnesses were punished severely by the criminal law1, the penalty being fine and banishment.

1. Manu, VIII, 120-123, Vol. 25, Sacred Books of the East, p. 275.