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Concept of Law and
Sources of Law
Law is a Social Science
Grows and develops with the growth and development of society
New developments in society create new problems and law is required to deal with those problems
Definitions of Law Austin
Law is the command of the Sovereign.
It is enforceable by a sanction
Roscoe Pound Law is a social institution to satisfy social wants
Salmond Law is a body of principles recognized and applied by
the State in the administration of justice
Moulton Law is the crystallized common sense of the community
Purpose of Law Maintenance of law and order
Enables individuals to have the maximum freedom to assert themselves
Maximum satisfaction of the needs of the people
Object of law Object of law is justice
Justice operates at two different levels
Distributive justice serves to secure balance among the members of a community
Corrective justice serves to correct the dis-equilibrium created by a wrongful act
Kinds of Law International law – Law of Nations
Public International Law – Body of rules governing the conduct and relations of States with each other
Private International Law – Rules and principles governing cases having foreign element. Applies to individuals and not to States
Municipal Law – Law of the land
Public Law – determines and regulates the organisation and functioning of the State and determines the relation of the State with its subjects
Private Law – regulates and governs the relation of citizens with one another
Public Law
Constitutional Law – includes all rules which directly or indirectly affect the distribution or exercise of Sovereign power of the State
Administrative Law – determines the organisation, powers and duties of administrative authorities
Criminal Law – defines offences and prescribes punishments for them
Private Law
Personal Laws
Law of Property
Law of obligation
General Law – Ordinary law of the land
Special Law – Legal rules which are special and exceptional in their nature
Kinds of Special Law Local Law – Law of a particular locality
Foreign Law – Law of a foreign country
Martial Law – Law applicable to soldiers as well as civilians in times of war or tumult
Military Law – applicable to soldiers alone
Elements of State State is a people organised for law within a definite
territory
Population – No State without people
Territory – People settling down on some definite territory constitute a State
Government – It is the machinery through which the administration of a country is carried on. It is outward manifestation of the State
Sovereignty – It is that which is absolute and uncontrolled within its own sphere
Functions of the State Primary
War and administration of justice (Defence against external enemy and maintenance of law and order within the country)
Secondary Legislation and Taxation (necessary for the welfare of
the citizens)
The relation between State and Law is very close and intimate
The State manifests itself through law and law has its importance because it has the sanction of the State
Sources of Law Legislation – Making of law by the formal and express
declaration of new rules by some authority in the body politic which is recognised as adequate for that purpose
Precedent - Making of law by the recognition and application of new rules by courts themselves in the administration of justice
Customary Law – Constituted by customs which fulfil the requirements laid down by law as the condition for their recognition as obligatory rules of conduct
Conventional Law - It is that which is constituted by agreement having the force of special law inter partes
Legislation
Means the making of the Law or declaration of legal rules by competent authority
Supreme legislation proceeds from the Sovereign power in the State
Subordinate legislation proceeds from any authority other than the Sovereign power
Control over delegated legislation Parliamentary control
Judicial control
Public opinion
Custom Uniformity of conduct of all persons under like
circumstances
It is observed course of conduct
It is a rule which has existed from time immemorial and obtained the force of law in a particular locality
When same thing is done again and again in a particular way, it assumes the form of custom
Precedent Judicial decision to which authority has been attached
The reason why a precedent is recognised is that a judicial decision is presumed to be correct
Under this rule, a principle of law which has become settled by a series of decisions is generally binding on courts and should be followed in similar cases
The doctrine has been recognised by the Constitution of India
Article 141 provides that the law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all courts in India
The Supreme Court is free to depart from its previous decisions if valid reasons exist for doing so
Substantive and Procedural Laws Substantive Laws – those which define rights, duties
and liabilities
Substantive Criminal Law is contained in the Indian Penal Code and various Special and Local laws
Substantive Civil Law is contained in Acts like Indian Contract Act, Hindu Marriage Act, Transfer of Property Act etc.
Procedural Laws or Adjective Laws – those which define the pleading and procedure by which substantive laws are applied in practice.
Criminal Procedure Code
Civil Procedure Code and
Indian Evidence Act
are the examples of Procedural Law