Abstract: The judicial system in ancient India was not merely a system of punishment, but also a developed process for resolving disputes related to social relations, property, debt, trade, family, contracts, and state security. This paper provides a historical study of the legal dispute and adjudication process in ancient India. The study analyses dispute classification; the jurisdiction of the Dharmasthiya and Kantakshodhana courts; case filing; notice and hearing; adjudication and reconsideration; judgment implementation; and the evidence system. Sources include Manu, Narada, Yajnavalkya, Kautilya, Shukra, and other religious and literary traditions. These sources clearly show the importance placed on written and oral evidence, witness qualifications, oaths, tradition, title, and religious principles in the judicial process. Additionally, the king was acknowledged as the supreme judicial authority, and there was a provision for reviewing the decisions of subordinate courts. This study also reveals that the ancient judicial system was deeply intertwined with the contemporary social structure and caste-based beliefs. Therefore, it is more appropriate to understand it in its historical context rather than measure it directly against modern standards of justice.

Keywords: Dharmasthiya Kantakshodhana, Dharmashastra,Pradeshta, Vyavharika.