Lawyers' Tale in the History of Indian Subcontinent: An Analytical Study of the Mughal Imperial System and Classical Hindu Law

Abstract

Lawyers do have many skills, but their training and work are client-centered. Therefore, the major considerations remain in the interests of clients. Lawyers did play an important role in the administration of justice.The history of the legal profession and the role of Lawyers has been expounded by many scholars in their writings.However, this article focuses on representation through Lawyers in British India and analyses textual data of classical Hindu law. In the reign of Mughal emperors, particularly Muhiyuddin Muhammad Awrangzib (1658-1707), representation through lawyers was recognized, and even to date, the role of lawyers plays a significant rolein order to secure ends of justice and prevention of abuses. The paper critically discusses representation by lawyers, their role and their duties in British India. In particular, it analyses the text of classical Hindu law by contextualizing the text of Classical Hindu Books. Finally, it establishes that for the first time in the reign of Aurangzeb, Vakil-e-Sarkar or Vakil-e Shara were appointed as lawyers (Vakils) to defend the State in the suits filed in every district. It also finds that classical Hindu law recognizes representation through lawyers.