The Mughal Emperors had a high sense of justice, and that is one main reason why the Mughal Empire survived so long.
The Mughal Emperors had a fixed day in the week, usually a Wednesday, for dispensing justice personally.
In Ain-e-Akbari Emperor Akbar's order is mentioned : " Those who apply for justice, let them not be inflicted with delay and expectation. Let him ( the Judge ) object to no one on account of his religion or sect. "
In Akbarnama Abul Fazal writes : " His Majesty in his Court makes no distinction between relative and stranger, or betwen a noble and a tangle haired beggar."
Jehangir's chain of justice is known to all. but this was not merely symbolic. Jehangir in fact had a high sense of justice.
Thus, he got Hoshang, the nephew of Khan Alam, put up on trial for an alleged murder committed by him, although Khan Alam was a high noble in the Mughal Court. " God forbid " said the Emperor, " that in such affairs I should consider princes, and far less shall I consider amirs, and I hope that the Grace of God may support me in this ". Hoshang was found guilty and executed.
Jehangir was very particular about guaranteeing the rights of minorities. In 1608 he issued a Firman to the Governor, officials and jagirdars of Gujrat ordering them to safeguard the temples and dharmashalas of the Jain community. They were also ordered not to levy any tax on pilgrims.
In 'Jahangirnama', which is his autoibography, Jahangir wrote that even when he had fever he would go to Court at the designated time to sit in Court and decide cases
Disposal of cases was expeditious in the Mughal period. Bernier , a contemporary traveller in the 17th century ( see his 'Travels' ), writes that cases were "speedily decided ". According to Terry, a European missionary attached to the staff of Sir Thomas Roe, trials were " conducted speedily ". Manucci ( see his 'Storia du Mogor R.A.S. London ) says that the Emperor " causes the judgment he pronounces to be executed on the spot ". Fryer ( see his 'Travels' ), who visited India in the reign of Aurangzeb, writes that cases were quickly disposed off.
Rai Bihari Mal, writing about the Qazis of Shahjehan's reign, says that in general the Judges endeavoured to function upto the standard demanded of them, lest it be mentioned before the Emperor that justice was not being done ( see 'History of India' by Sir Henry Elliot ).
Dereliction from duty or corruption by Judges, whenever it came to the notice of the Emperors, was promptly and severely punished.
Thus, Manrique, a European traveller in 1632 ( see his 'Travels' ), observes : " For unjust and corrupt Judges who do not comply with the demands of justice, they erect still loftier and more costly columns whereon they state on bronze plates the name of the Judge, and the fault for which his skull is confined here ".
The Mughal Emperors had a fixed day in the week, usually a Wednesday, for dispensing justice personally.
In Ain-e-Akbari Emperor Akbar's order is mentioned : " Those who apply for justice, let them not be inflicted with delay and expectation. Let him ( the Judge ) object to no one on account of his religion or sect. "
In Akbarnama Abul Fazal writes : " His Majesty in his Court makes no distinction between relative and stranger, or betwen a noble and a tangle haired beggar."
Jehangir's chain of justice is known to all. but this was not merely symbolic. Jehangir in fact had a high sense of justice.
Thus, he got Hoshang, the nephew of Khan Alam, put up on trial for an alleged murder committed by him, although Khan Alam was a high noble in the Mughal Court. " God forbid " said the Emperor, " that in such affairs I should consider princes, and far less shall I consider amirs, and I hope that the Grace of God may support me in this ". Hoshang was found guilty and executed.
Jehangir was very particular about guaranteeing the rights of minorities. In 1608 he issued a Firman to the Governor, officials and jagirdars of Gujrat ordering them to safeguard the temples and dharmashalas of the Jain community. They were also ordered not to levy any tax on pilgrims.
In 'Jahangirnama', which is his autoibography, Jahangir wrote that even when he had fever he would go to Court at the designated time to sit in Court and decide cases
Disposal of cases was expeditious in the Mughal period. Bernier , a contemporary traveller in the 17th century ( see his 'Travels' ), writes that cases were "speedily decided ". According to Terry, a European missionary attached to the staff of Sir Thomas Roe, trials were " conducted speedily ". Manucci ( see his 'Storia du Mogor R.A.S. London ) says that the Emperor " causes the judgment he pronounces to be executed on the spot ". Fryer ( see his 'Travels' ), who visited India in the reign of Aurangzeb, writes that cases were quickly disposed off.
Rai Bihari Mal, writing about the Qazis of Shahjehan's reign, says that in general the Judges endeavoured to function upto the standard demanded of them, lest it be mentioned before the Emperor that justice was not being done ( see 'History of India' by Sir Henry Elliot ).
Dereliction from duty or corruption by Judges, whenever it came to the notice of the Emperors, was promptly and severely punished.
Thus, Manrique, a European traveller in 1632 ( see his 'Travels' ), observes : " For unjust and corrupt Judges who do not comply with the demands of justice, they erect still loftier and more costly columns whereon they state on bronze plates the name of the Judge, and the fault for which his skull is confined here ".
