106 



ON THE A.DMIXISTRATION OF 



The powers of the Provincial,* or local, courts are always the same, not 

 being regulated with reference to the rank of the Governor of the Province 

 for the time being. But, in cases touching life or limb, or involving confis- 

 cation, breach of the laws of religion and loss of caste, every court of 

 the interior must forward a ivritten report with the offender's confes- 

 sion to Kathmandu to be laid before the Government which refers them 

 to the Ditlia. The Ditha reports the customary proceeding in such 

 matters, and according to his report a royal command is transmitted to 

 the local court to award such and such punishment, or to send the 

 offender and witnesses to Kathmandu, as the case may be. No go- 

 vernor of a province or judge of a district court has power to decide 

 cases involving loss of life or limb, or status, or substance of property, 

 (jdt Qr^^Lpdn^): to the decision of all others they are competent. 



Military officers, fiscal officers, " courtiers," and others of w^hatever 

 profession, are eligible to judicial situations in the provinces, if they have 

 the confidence of government and are men of respectability and ca- 

 pable of the charge. 



" The village courts of the interior are presided over by one 

 Praja-7iaikiah and four Pradhdu-Prajds, popular chiefs of the spot, who 

 now act in subordinate co-operation M ith a government agent or Dwdriah. 

 Above them come the hill Biclidris of the two divisions already named : — 

 and, instead thereof, in Pdlpd and Duti, the sudder court of the governor, 

 and in the Tardi, that of the Sabhd or revenual administrator. 



The hasis of the judicial system in the interior is to be recognized in 

 the village courts, composed of a Naikiah and 4 Pradhdns : the Dwdriah 

 is merely a badge of conquest. 



* The terra Provincial rather implies a court of a vice-regal ruler of a large tract : there 

 are none such in N^pal save the Governors of Duti and Palpa, and the Subahs of the low 

 lands. H. 



