Professor Dr.D.

Jayakumar

Unit 4 Law and Society

Meaning, Nature and Functions of Law

1. Introduction

The term “Law’ denotes different kinds of rules and Principles. Law is an
instrument which regulates human conduct/behavior. Law means Justice,
Morality, Reason, Order, and Righteous from the view point of the society.
Law means Statutes, Acts, Rules, Regulations, Orders, and Ordinances from
point of view of legislature. Law means Rules of court, Decrees, Judgment,
Orders of courts, and Injunctions from the point of view of Judges.
Therefore, Law is a broader term which includes Acts, Statutes, Rules,
Regulations, Orders, Ordinances, Justice, Morality, Reason, Righteous, Rules
of court, Decrees, Judgment, Orders of courts, Injunctions, Tort,
Jurisprudence, Legal theory, etc.

2. Meaning of Law

In old English “Lagu” i.e. law, ordinance, rule, regulation from old norse
“lagu” law collective Plural of “Lag” is layer, measure, stroke ‘Literally’
something laid down of fixed.

The term law has different meanings in different Places/societies at different

times (as it is subject to amendments). In Hindu religion law implies
“Dharma” in Muhammadean religion (Islam) it is “Hokum” in Roman its
“Jus”, in French, its “Droit” in Arabic, Alqanoon, in Persian and Turkish, its
Kunoon, in Latin its “Legam” in Philipino its “Batas” in Albanian language
its “Ligj” in Czech its “Zakon” in Danish its “Lor” in Dutch its “Wet” in
Italian its “Legge” and in Lithuanian its “Teise” and so on. It varies from
place to place in the sense adultery is an offence in India (under section 497
of the Indian penal code, 1860) while it is no offence in America. Law differs
from religion to religion in the sense personal laws viz. Hindu law, Muslim
law etc. differ from one another. For instance, A Muslim can have four wives
living at a time, but, a Hindu can have only one wife living at a time
(Monogamy). If a Hindu male marries again during the life time of first wife
he is declared guilty of the offence of bigamy and is Punishable under sec.
494. The law is subject to change with the change in society and also change
in the Government/legislative through the amendments/Acts.
 Generally the term law is used to mean three things:

First it is used to mean “legal order”. It represents the regime of adjusting

relations, and ordering conduct by the systematic application of the force of
organized political society.

Secondly, law means the whole body of legal Percepts which exists in a
politically organized society.

Thirdly, law is used to mean all official control in a politically organized

society. This lead to actual administration of Justice as contrasted with the
authoritive material for the Guidance of Judicial action. Law in its narrowest
or strict sense is the civil law or the law of the land.

3. Definitions of law:-

It is very difficult to define the term law. Many Jurists attempted to define the
term law. For the Purpose of clarity, some of the definitions given by Jurists
in different Periods are categorized as follows.

(I) Idealistic Definitions:-

Romans and other ancient Jurists defined law in its idealistic nature. Roman
Justinian’s defined law in the light of its idealistic nature.

(a) Salmond: - According to salmond “the law may be defined as the body of
principles recognized and applied by the state in the administration of
Justice.

Criticism of Salmond’s definition of law:- Salmond did not define the

expression Justice. Keeton says what has been considered to be just at one
time has frequently not been so considered at another.

Criticism by Dean Roscoe Pound: - Dean Roscoe Pound has criticized the
definition of Salmond as reducing law to a mass of isolated decisions and the
law in that sense to be an organic whole. Further, it is criticized on the
ground that Salmond’s definition applies only to lax law not to Statute.
 Despite criticism, Salmond’s definition is considered as the workable
definition.

(b) John chipman Gray’s Definition of Law:-

According to Gray, “the Law of the State or of any organized body of men is
composed of the rules which the courts, that is the judicial organ of the body
lays down for the determination of legal rights and duties.

Criticism of Gray’s definition of law:-

Gray’s definition is criticized on the Ground that he is not concerned with the
nature of law rather than its Purposes and Ends. Further it does not take into
account the statute law.

(ii) Positivisties definition:-

(a) Austin’s definition of law”

John Austin (1790-1859) An English Jurists expounded the concept of analytical

positivism, making law as a command of sovereign backed by sanction. He
developed logically, a structure of legal system in which he gave no Place to
values, morality, idealism and Justice.

According to Austin, a law, in the strict sense is a general command of the

sovereign individual or the sovereign body. Issued to those in subjectivity and
enforced by the physical power of the state. According to Austin “law is aggregate
of rules set by men politically superior or sovereign to men as politically subject.”
Austin says, “A law is command which obliges a person or persons to a course of
conduct.

Criticism of Austin’s definition of law:-

Austin’s definition of law is subjected to criticism on the ground that it ignores

completely the moral and ethical aspects of law and unduly Emphasized the
imperative character of law.

(b) Holland’s definition of law

Thomas Erskine Holland, a reputed Jurist, who followed the Austin’s concept and
nature of law attempted to define law as law is a General rule of external human
action enforced by a political sovereign. Holland also measures or defines law with
preference to sovereign devoid of moral, ethical or ideal elements which are
foreign to law and Jurisprudence.

(c) John Erskine definition of law

Law is the command of a sovereign, containing a common rule of life for his
subjects and obliging them to obedience.

(c) Hans Kelsan’s definition of Law

According to Kelsan legal order is the hierarchy of the norms, every norm
derive its validity from the superior norm and finally there is highest norm
known as grundnorm.

(d) H.L.A.Hart

According to Hart Law is the combination of primary rules of obligations and

secondary rules of recognition.

Definition of Historical school of Law

The chief exponent of the Historical school is Von Savigny. Historical

Jurisprudence examines the manner or growth of a legal system. It deals with
general principles governing the origin and development of law and also the origin
and development of legal conceptions and principles found in the Philosophy of
law.

Savigin’s definition of law:- Savigny says that law is not the product of direct
legislation but is due to the silent growth of custom or the outcome of
unformulated public or Professional opinion. He says that law not as a body of
rules set by determinate authority but as rules consist partly of social habitat and
partly of experience. He says law is found in the society, it is found in custom.

Sociological school of law

The sociological school commenced in the middle of nineteenth century,

According to sociological school the common field of study of the Jurist is the
effect of law and society on each other. This approach takes law as instrument of
social progress.

(a) Ihering’s Definition of law

Ihering defines law as ‘the form of Guarantee of the conditions of life of

society, assured by state’s power of constrain. He says law is a means to an end
and end of the law is to serve its purpose which is social not individual.

(b) Dean Roscoe Pound’s definition of law

Pound defines law as a social institution to satisfy social wants. He says law is
a social engineering, which means that law is a instrument to balance between
the competing or conflicting interests.

(c) Dias’s Definition of law

Law consists largely of “ought” (normative) Propositions prescribing how

people ought to behave the “ought” of laws are variously dictated by social,
moral, economic, political and other purposes

(IV) Realist definition of law

It is branch of sociological school. It studies law as it is in its actual working

and effects. It has been summed up by its exponent professor K. Llewellyn as
“ferment”

According to Georges Guroitch the neo-realistic school represents a violent

reaction against the dominantly theological and moralizing orientation of
“sociological Jurisprudence”

Holmes J. The realist considered the law to be a part of judicial process. He

says, “that the prophesies of what the courts will do, in fact and nothing more
pretentions, are what I mean by law.

4. Origin of law

Ancient Egyptian law, dating as far back as 3000 BC had a civil code that was
probably broken into twelve books it was based on the concept of Ma’at
characterized by tradition rhetorical speech, social equality and impartiality by
 the 22nd century BC, ur-nammu an ancient Sumerian ruler, formulated the first
law code consisting of casuistic statements (if…then…”) Around 1960 BC
king Hammurabi further developed Babylonian law, by codifying and
inscribing it in stone. Hammurabi placed several copies of his law code
throughout the kingdom of Babylon as Stelae, for the entire public to see this
became known as the codex Hammurabi.

Ancient India and china represent distinct tradition of law, and had historically
independent schools of legal theory and practice. The Arthashastra, dating
from the 400 BC and the Manusmriti from 100 BCE were influential treatises
in India, but this Hindu tradition, along with Islamic law was supplanted by the
common law when India became part of British Empire. Malaysia, Brunei,
Singapore and Hongkong also adopted the common law. Japan was the first
country to begin modernizing its legal system along western lines by importing
bits of the French but mostly the German Civil Code. Similarly traditional
Chinese law gave way to westernization towards the final years of the dynasty
in the form of six private law codes based mainly on the Japanese modal of
German law.

One of the major legal systems developed during the Middle Ages was Islamic
law and jurisprudence. During the classical period of Islamic law and
jurisprudence “Hawala” and institution of law was an early informal transfer
system which is mentioned in text of Islamic Jurisprudence as early as the 8 th
century. Hawala itself later influenced the development of the “Aval” in
French civil law and Avallo in Italian law. Roman law was heavily influenced
by Greek teachings.

5. Nature of law

What is the nature of law? This question has occupied center stage
Jurisprudence and philosophy of law in the modern era, and has been the
central occupation of contemporary analytic Jurisprudence. This entry in the
legal theory Lexicon aims to give an overview of the “what is law” debate.

Historically, the answer to the question, “what is Law” is thought to have two
competing answers. The classical answer is provided by natural law theory,
 which is frequently characterized as asserting that there is an essential
relationship between law and morality and Justice.

The modern answer is provided by legal positivism, which as developed by

John Austin, asserted that law is the command of the sovereign backed by the
threat of punishment.

Contemporary debates over the nature of law focus on a revised set of

positions legal positivism is represented by Analytical legal positivists, like
H.L.A Hart Joseph raza and Jules Coleman.

The natural law tradition is defined by John Punis and a new position,
interpretivism is represented by the work of the late Ronald Dworkin.

In some ways, the title of this lexicon entry is misleading because of focus on
the “what is law” question as it has been approached by contemporary legal
philosophers.

There are other important perspectives on the nature of law that focus on law’s
functions rather than the meaning of the concept for criteria of legal validity.
For example, the sociological tradition includes important work on the nature
of law by Max Weber and Niklas Lahumann. These issues are discussed by
Brian Tamanaha in a very clear way.

This lexicon entry maps the territory of the “what is Law”? Controversy, and
provides introductory sketches of the major positions as always, the lexicon is
written for law students.

6. Functions of law

Ever since the down of Human civilization, mankind has had some sort of rule
or that they used to Govern itself in society laws set the standard in which we
should live in if we want to be part of society. Law set up rules and regulations
for society so that we can freedom, gives Justice to those who were wronged,
and it set up that it protects us from our own Government.

Most importantly the law also provides a mechanism to resolve disputes

arising from those duties and rights and allows parties to enforce promises in a
court of law (Corley and Reed 1986 P.A)
According to Corley and Reed (1986) law is a body of rules of action or
conduct Prescribed by controlling authority, and having legal binding forces.

Laws are created because it helps prevent chaos from happening within the
business environment and as well as society. In business law sets guide lines
regarding employment regulatory, compliance, even inter office regulations.

7. Role of law in Business:-

The rule of law plays an important role in the business world when set setting a
business it is the laws that determine what type of business it is to became, and
the structure is to be formed.

Also the law sets up a reasonable expectation on how the business should
operate in order to protect the business owner’s interest of the Customer of that
business. The rule of law not only allows people to understand what is
expected of them in their personal capacities but also set forth rules for
business so that they, too know what is expected of them in their dealing and
transactions ( Johnson & Lalu 2014) the law protects those who work for a
business. it sets Guideline of how treat your employees, equal opportunities,
pay scale, hours, breaks, benefits and long with a host of other right privileges.
In short the laws for business create an honest environment where consumers
and business owners interest can be protected and we have ways to solve of
any disputes arise. If these laws are in any ways are violated it sets up
Guidelines for punishment.

8. Role of law in Society:-

Without law our society would be chaotic, uncivilized mess and anarchy would
reign supreme.

The role that law has in society is that it creates a norm of conducts in the
society we live in laws are made to protect its citizen from harm. It set in way
that all citizens are given equal opportunity, protection from harm no matter
your race, Gender, religion and social standing.

Under the law all its citizens are guarantee equal protections. In society laws
are made to promote the common good for everyone. That is sets up Guideline
 for everyone in society to act in way that brings the Greater Good. Everyone
acted without thinking about the Greater Good, society would revert to those
days where survival of the fittest was the common sight.

We live in world where we have finite amount of resources should shared or

used. Laws are made on how to manage these and how we resolve if issues
arise over these resources. If know laws were in place these sources would be
controlled by the string and the wealthy.

Kinds of law

1. Introduction
Law is used in different senses. The use of the term “law” is made in various
senses. It denotes different kinds of rules and Principles.

Blackstone says “law in its most general and comprehensive sense signifies a rule
of action and is applied indiscriminately to all kinds of action whether, animate,
rational, irrational. Thus we say the law of motion of gravitation of optics or
Mechanics, as well as the law of nature and nations” it is helpful in understanding
the different senses in which “law” is used in various fields of knowledge.

2. Kinds of law by Sir Jhon Salmond

Sir John Salmond refers to eight kinds of law

1. Imperative law

2. Physical or scientific law

3. Natural or moral law

4. Conventional law

5. Customary law
 6. Practical or technical law

7. International law, and

8. Civil law

1. Imperative law
Imperative law means a rule of action imposed upon by some authority
which enforces obedience to it. In other words it is a command enforced by some
superior power either physically or in any other form of compulsion.

Kinds of Imperative law:-

There are two kinds of imperative law, Divine or human

1. Divine laws

2. Human laws

1. Divine laws are consists of the commands imposed by God upon men either
by threats of Punishment or by hope of his blessings.

2. Human laws are the laws by analogy

Sir Jhon Salmond classifies Human Laws into four sub classes

1. Imperative law imposed and enforced by State is called “Civil law”

2. Imperative law imposed and enforced by members of society is “Moral law”

3. Those imposed and enforced by different institutions or autonomous bodies

like Universities, airline companies etc they are called “Autonomic law”

4. Those imposed upon States by the society of States are called “ International
law”
2.Physical or scientific law
Physical laws are the expressions of the

1. Uniformities of nature and General Principles Expressing the

2. Regularity, and

3. Harmony observable in the activities and operations of the universe.

They are not the creation of men and cannot be changed by them. Human laws
change from time to time and from country to country but physical laws are
invariable forever. The uniform actions of human beings, such as law of
psychology, also fall into this class they express not what man ought to do, but
what they do.

3. Practical or Technical law:-

It consists of Principles and rules for the attainment of certain ends e.g. laws of
health, laws of architecture. These rules guide us as to what we ought to do in
order to attain certain ends.

4. Natural or Moral law:-

It has various other names such as, “the Moral law” “Divine law” “God Law”
‘universal or eternal law and “law of reason” etc. “by natural law is meant the
principles of natural right and wrong (the Principles of natural Justice)”. Natural
laws have been called

Divine law:- commands of God imposed upon men.

Law of Reason i.e. being established by that reason by which the world is
Governed.

Unwritten law:- (as being written not an brazen tables or a pillar of stone but by
the finger of nature in the hearts of people. universal or common law (being of
universal validity)

Eternal law (being uncreated and invariable)

Moral law (being the expression of the Principles of morality)

 5. Conventional law:-
It is the body of rules agreed upon and followed by the concerned parties to
regulate their mutual conduct. It is form of special law and law for the parties
which can be made valid or enforced through an agreement.

A Good example of the conventional law is the International law, laws of

cricket or any other game, rules of club. It has been father divided into two groups
which are:-

1. Rules enforced by the parties themselves but not recognized by the State e.g.
the rules of hokey

2. Rules which are recognized and enforced by the State, e.g. contract etc.

6. Customary law:-

Customary laws are those rules of custom that are habitually followed by the
majority of the persons subject to them in the belief of binding nature.

According to Salmond, customary law means “any rules of action which is

actually observed by men (any rule which is the expression of some actual
uniformity of voluntary action) “when a custom is firmly established it is enforced
by the authority of the State. Custom is not law by itself but an important source of
law only those customs acquired the force of law, which are recognized by the
courts.

7. International law:-

According to “Hughes” international law is the body of Principles and rules which
civilized States consider as binding upon them in their mutual relations. “ it can be
as the name for the body of customary and conventional rules, which are
considered legally binding by civilized States in their intercourse with each
other”. According to Salmond it is considered of these rules which the sovereign
States have agreed to observe in their dealings with one another.
International agreements are of two types:

They are either expressed or implied.

Express agreements are contained in treaties and conventions, while implied

agreements are to be found in the custom or practice of the States. International
law is of two kinds:

I: Public International law: It prevails universally all over the world.

II: Private International Law: It is enforced only between some of States.

8. Civil Law

It is the law of the States regarding the land “Civil Law” according to the
Salmond , is “the law of State of or the law of the land, the law of lawyers and
the law of the courts”. Civil law is the positive law, or law of the land which
means the law as it exists. It is backed by the force and might of the State for
purposes of enforcement. Civil law differs from special law as the latter applies
only in special circumstances the other term is used for the civil law is Municipal
Law and national law.

CLASSIFICATION OF LAW

1. Introduction
Etymological meaning of classification is “the process of putting something into
category” or the basic cognative process of arranging into classes or categories. For
a proper and logical understanding of law its classification becomes necessary. As
it elucidates the way of systematic logical structure of the legal order. It explicates
the inter relation of rules and their effect to each other. It analysis the law that
intern is helpful in codification of laws it is an arrangement of rules in a concise
and systematic way.

2. Original and Meaning of the Classification of Law

 Notion of classification is very old. Classification was first made by Roman Jurists.
The ancient Hindu Jurists also laid down eighteen titles or heads of “Vyavahara”
civil law. The distinguished civil and criminal law and classified crime law under
various heads.
There are two limitations in classification of law first; any classification will have
only a relative value and no universal principle or rules can be laid down for it.
With the onward march of time, old rule changed their nature and the field of
application and new rules based on different Principles come into existence.
Therefore, a new classification becomes necessary. Roman Jurist analyzed law in
old times but that classification is Vague to present world.
Second, any classification made keeping in view the law of a Particular community
or nation is not applicable to the law of any other Community or nation.
For Example; if one commits a breach of promise to marry, in English law, it falls
under contract, but in French law it falls under delict.
So, it’s not possible to discuss the classifications given by various Jurists, only a
General Classification shall be given which has been adopted by most of Jurists of
the modern times.
3. Classification of Law
(1) International Law, and
(2) Municipal or National law

International law:- The Present form of international law is of recent origin some
earlier Jurist were of the view that the international law is not law as it lacked
many elements which law should have. Austin and his supporters were of this
view. Some says international law is law and it is superior to the municipal law
Kelson supports this view.
What is International Law?
The legal Process that concerns legal relations among nations is called
international law. Belief and experience some form international law dates from at
least the days of the Roman Empire.
The united nation is are of the Primary mechanism that articulate and create
international law.
The major sources of international law are multilateral Treaties, international
custom and such General Principles as are recognized by civilized nations.
According to some Jurists international law may be divided into two classes.
(1) Public international law, and
(2) Private international law

(1) Public international law is that body of rules which govern the conduct and
relations of States with other, really speaking; the term international law is
used for this class of law.
(2) Private international law means those rules and Principles according to
which the cases having foreign element are decided for example, if a
contract is made between an Indian and Pakistani and it is to be performed
the rule and Principles on which the rights and liabilities of the Parties
would be determined would be called Private international law. This class of
law is called “Conflict of laws” also. After knowing the field of application
of this class of law, it is clear that the adjective “international” is wrongly
given to it because it applies to individuals and not to States and these rules
and Principles (called Private international law) vary from State to State and
thus lacked uniformity. This class of law is enforced by municipal courts
which administer municipal law and not international law, so, such a law
does not process the characteristics of international law.
In modern times this class of law has gained much importance and every
States has made rules for its administration. Therefore, it must be properly
classified. It is submitted that it should be given the name “Conflict of
Laws” and not private international law and should be treated as a branch of
municipal Private law and should be classified as such.

4. The Municipal law, Law of land, Civil law, or law applied within a
State is divided into two classes:-

(A) PUBLIC LAW

(B) PRIVATE LAW

A) PUBLIC LAW:- The State activities are largely regulated by Public

law. It determines and regulates the organization and functioning of the State
and determines the relation of the State with the subject. public law may be
divided into three classes:-
(A) Constitutional law
(B) Administrative law and
(C) Criminal law
(A) Constitutional law: By constitutional law is meant that law which
determines the nature of the State and the Structure of the Government.
It is above and superior to the Ordinary law of the land. Constitutional
law is the basic law or fundamental law of the State. The constitutional
law may be written as in India or unwritten as in England. In modern
times there is tendency to adopt written constitution.
(B) Administrative Law:- Administrative law deals with the structures
powers and the functions of organs of the administration, the limits of
their Powers, the methods and Procedures followed by them in
exercising their powers and functions; the methods by which there
power are controlled including the legal remedies available to a person
against them when his rights are infringed by their operation.
(C) Criminal law:- Criminal law defines offences and prescribes
punishment for them. Its aim is the prevention of and punishment for
offences. Criminal law is necessary for the maintenance of order and
peace within the State. In civilized societies crime is considered to be
wrong not only against the individual (who has been wronged) but a
wrong against the society. Therefore, the State initiates the proceedings
against the offender, and thus it is always a party in criminal cases.
This is why the criminal law is considered as a branch of public law.
(D) Private Law: - This branch of law regulates and governs the relations
of citizens with each other. The parties in such cases are private
individuals and the State through its judicial organ adjudicates the
matters in dispute between them. In these cases the State takes the
position of only an arbiter. But it does not mean that the State regulates
all the conducts and relations of the citizens but regulates only such of
them as are of public importance and these relations (which State
regulates) constitute the civil rights of the citizens. The major part of
municipal law consists of this branch of law but in Totalitarian States
the public law regulates the major part of the social life.
In the Classification of private law there is great difficulty. Different
Jurists have given different classification, a very General classification
is as follows:-
 1. The law of Persons
2. The law of Property
3. The law of obligations
4. The conflict of laws
The law of obligations is divided into three classes.
(i) Contract
(ii)Quasi contract, and
(iii) Tort
The classification is only substantive law. The procedural law and Evidence are
also the branches of the Private law.
A chart Presenting the above classification is as below:-

Law

State law/national law international law

Public law private law

Constitutional law Administrative law criminal law

Law of Person law of Property law of obligations the conflict of laws

 Contract Quasi-contract Tort

5. Decision
Above classification defective: - The above classification of law has many defects.
Many of the classes do not exist in many legal system at all some branches of law
which has developed in recent years cannot be put under any one class exclusively.
Therefore, the above classification is neither universal nor exhaustive. Many other
Jurists have made classifications based on different principles. But these too have
been made keeping in view the law of a particular nation; therefore, they are not
satisfactory and have no wide application.
New developments; A new classification necessary: - In modern times, new
branches of law are fastly growing and developing. These laws are of such
composite nature that they partake the nature and characteristics of many of
branches of the law and do not fall into any one class exclusively for example we
may take the commercial law. It cuts across the two branches of law i.e the law of
obligation and the law of property. Similarly, industrial law also partakes the
characteristics of many branches of the law.
With the change in the concept of the State and law many branches of private law
have shifted and have become part of the public law. In totalitarian States this
change has taken place to a considerable degree. Under these circumstances it is
necessary to make a comprehensive and complete classification which might cover
the recent developments of law for this purpose a very close study of the laws of
various nations and various branches of law must be made.