| Monarchy was the usual form of government in the medieval ages. Even in Europe and in Asiatic states outside India, this was the only form of Government the medieval king was necessarily the “Leviathan” of Hobbes enjoying all the “Divine Rights”. The central Government during the middle ages was only the apparition of the ruling kings. The king, as it were, was the revolving moon round the earth. He gave brightness and guided all the deliberations. Monarchy, however, was not absolute. Public opinion was a potent factor. But it cannot be denied that judicial administration during the medieval period was highly centralized. The king was the fountainhead of justice and decided most of the important cases personally. Even prominent officials and nobles were permitted to go unpunished for their acts of highhandedness and crimes, by the strong rulers who ruled the Vijayangara kingdom to understand the overall administrative nature of the kingdom. With this objective, the present article intends to portray the picture of judicial administration in Vijayanagara kingdom. |