Epics replete with instances of sound legal system: judge

124th anniversary of Tiruchi Bar Association celebrated

V.Ramasubramanian, right, judge, Madras High Court, honouring a Judicial Magistrate at the 124th anniversary of the Tiruchi Bar Association on Saturday. Photo: M. Moorthy

Ancient Tamil era and the earliest epics are replete with innumerable instances of the sound legal system and the rule of law that prevailed in those days, V. Ramasubramanian, judge, Madras High Court, said on Saturday.

He was speaking at the 124th anniversary celebrations of the Tiruchi Bar Association in the city. Citing the greatest epic Silapathikaaram , he said its close association with the legal system of the yore was evident.

What we refer to as material object in the modern judicial system found mention even in the ancient period, he said referring once again to the classic,

Silapathikaaram , in which Kannagi had broken open her anklet as evidence to prove her husband’s innocence.

Ancient Tamil rulers and many classics have described the kind of legal system that prevailed centuries ago and how judgements should be arrived at without getting influenced by arguments, he said.

Our forefathers were genius and created history in various fields, but unfortunately they had not recorded them, he said.

Principal District and Sessions Judge P. Velmurugan, Tamil Nadu Bar Council president D. Selvam, Tiruchi Bar Association president S. Veerapandian, and senior advocates D. Stanislaus and P. Kannappan offered felicitations.