• Dr. O. Rudrababu Singh

The establishment of a military court as a separate judicial institution only for the military personals was indeed a new phenomenon. Of course, all the kingdoms and states had their own system of giving punishment to the military personnels since time immemorial. Both in ancient and medieval times, in most of the countries, the rulers hold the overall control of the justice delivery system. Their words become the law. They served as the fountain of justice. With the passing of the first ‘Military Law’ and the establishment of the ‘Court of Chivalry’ in the United Kingdom in the seventeenth century, the history of military court as a separate institution began. However, the system developed as an institute only meant for military personals took due process over a long period of time. But in Manipur, the separate military court which was known as Top Garod was established even prior to the engagement with the British under their colonial rule. It was one of the specific courts established in Manipur. However, it was finally abolished by the British only after the defeat of Manipur in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 AD. In this paper, an attempt is being made to analyse the chief features of Top Garod as a court.

. Kuchu: king’s Court, 2. Cheirap: Highest civilian court, 3. Shinglup: Village level court, 4. Pacha: Women’s court, 5. Maru Loishang:Traditional religious court 6. Brahma Sabha: Hindu religious court, 7. Chandrakirti Maharaja (1850 – 1886), 8. Senapatti: Commander-in-chief, 9. Awapurel: foreign- in-charge, 10. Jubaraja: Heir apparent, 11. Tulis : Military regiments.

"TOP GAROD: Military Court of Manipur", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.2, Issue 4, page no.161-164, April-2015, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1701B29.pdf

"TOP GAROD: Military Court of Manipur", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.2, Issue 4, page no. pp161-164, April-2015, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1701B29.pdf