Unit-1
Law and social change
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Topic Explanation
1.2.1 Law as an instrument of social change
1.2.2 Law as the product of traditions and culture. Criticism and
evaluation in the light of colonization and the introduction of
common law system and institutions in India and its impact on
further development of law and legal institutions in India.
1.3 Questions for self learning
1.4 Let us sum up
1.5 Glossary
1.6 References
1.0 Objectives :
After studying this chapter we will be able to…..
1. Understand the importance of Law as an instrument of social change.
2. We will come to know that Law as the product of traditions and
culture.
3. We will study about the introduction of common law system and
institutions in India and its impact on further development of law and
legal institutions in India.
1.1 Introductions
For decades now law and society theorists have been preoccupied with
attempts to explain the relationship between legal and social change in the
context of development of legal institutions.
They viewed the law both as an independent and dependent and variable
(cause and effect) in society and emphasized the interdependence of the law
with other social systems. In its most concrete sense, social change means
large numbers of people are engaging in group activities and relationship
that are different from those in which they or their parents engaged in
previously. Thus, social change means modifications in the way people
work. Rear a family, educate their children, govern them, and seek ultimate
meaning in life. In addition to law and social change there are many other
mechanisms of change, such as technology, ideology, competition, conflict,
political and economic factors, and structural strains.
1
,1.2 Topic Explanation
1.2.1. Law as an instrument of social change.
Law is the reflection of the will and wish of the society. It is said that if
you want to study any society, you have to study the laws enacted by that
society and you come to know whether the society is developed or wild
world. The law, though it is the product of the society is responsible for the
social \transformations. In fact, there are two modes of this aspect. First is,
“Law changing the society”, which means that the law of the land compels
the society to be changed according to it. And secondly is. “Society changes
the law”, as per its needs. It needs. It means law is made by the society
according to its requirement by its democratic institution i.e. Legislative or
by adopting custom and usage. When law changes the society it is the sign
of beginning of the development of the society. When society changes law it
is the sign of maturity of the society. We can cite the enthusiasm of the
people in the matter of ‘Nirbhaya’ where the commonest of the common
was talking on how the law must be, what must be the punishment etc. here
this compelled the government to consider the sentiments of the society and
set up a commission to give suggestions and untimely the criminal law
amendment bill came into existence. The change required in the society can
be initiated by a single person also and this has been proved in India right
from Raja Ram Mohan Roy; to Mahatma Phule, Mahatma Baseswar, and
Mahatma Gandhi up to Anna Hazare! Thus the demand takes root and
shakes up the government to either reform the existing laws or make new or
even delete the existing unworthy laws.
For this we will have to cite examples for the history of India. When
mahatma Phule’s wife SavitribaiPhule actually started teaching in a school
aimed only for girls it was considered taboo, something not good and would
be affecting the society but this movement gradually became the source of
law where the girls could actually study and develop. Gradually the then
society thought reluctantly adopted this fact and started to send girls to
school this is positive sign of beginning of the development of the society.
Ultimately the girls got into colleges also. This was not only limited to the
Hindu society, finally the Aligarh Muslim college also had some seats for
female students studying. But no dough the lamp was lighted by the phule
couple. This is the ‘Society changes the law’, But per its need, rather
demands. Whereas the law play important role in changing the society too!
2
, Definitions of law: - The laws are variously defined by the scholars.
According to Summer “Laws are actually codified mores”.
Kant defined it as “a formula which expresses the necessity of an action”.
Krabble defines Law as “the expression of one of the many judgments of
value which we human beings make by virtue of our disposition and
nature”.
Green Arnold defined “Law is more or less systematic body of generalize
rules. Balanced between the fiction of performance and the of change,
governing specifically defined relationship and situations and employing
force or the threat of force in defined and limited ways”.
According to Duguit, laws are “the rules of conduct normal men know they
must observe in order to preserve and promote the benefits derived from life
in society.”
According to MacIver and Page “Law is the body of rules which are
recognized. Interpreted and applied to particular situations by the Courts of
the State.”
B.N. Cardozo says “Law is a principle or rule of conduct so established as
to justify a prediction with reasonable certainty that it will be enforced by
the Courts of its authority is challenged”.
Max Weber feels that “Law is an order, the validity of which is guarantee
by the probability that deviation will be met by physical or psychic sanction
by a staff specially empowered to carry out this Sanction”.
Hertzler comments, “Law in effect structures the power (Super-ordinate
Subordinate) relationship in society; it maintains the status quo and protests
the various strata against each other, both in Governmental and non-
governmental organizations and relationship”.
According to Roscoe Pound, “Law is an authoritative cannon of value laid
down by the force of politically organized society”. 12 Anthony Giddens
says “Laws are norms define and enforced by Governments.”
Austin defined Law as “the Command given by a superior to an inferior”.
Some define “Law as the Command of Sovereign of the dictates of the
State.” Sociological view believes that “Law as the rules of right conduct.”
Laws are the general conditions of human activity prescribed by the State
for its members.
Roscoe Pound stated, “Laws must be stable and yet cannot be stand still.”
As defined by Lundberg and others “Social Change refers to any
modification in established patterns of inter-human relationship and
standards of conduct.” 17 The definition is very apt and properly
encompasses all ingredients of the social change. The established pattern of
3
, Inter-human relationship between Caste Hindus and Scheduled Castes was
that of touch-me-not-ism as the same was thought to be polluting them i.e.
the Caste Hindus. The social change in the above dogmatic stratification
really called for modification in the changing and already changed social
scenario following independence in 1947 and following coming in force the
constitution of India. The standards of conduct of Caste Hindus were
required to change in time with Constitutional Provisions. Thus
modification in established patterns of inter-human relationship and
standards of conduct was brought through legal means mainly the
Constitution of India. The equal laws like I.P.C. (Indian Penal Code) /
Cri.P.C. (Code of Criminal Procedure) / Evidence Act etc. and finally and
especially through the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955 and the
Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (Amended with new name in 1976)
and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of
Atrocities) Act, 1989
At the beginning of industrialization and urbanization in Europe,
Bentham expected legal reforms to respond quickly to new social needs and
to restructure society. He freely gave advice to the leaders of the French
revolution, because he believed that countries at a similar stage of economic
development needed similar remedies for their common problems.
However, Savigny believed that only fully developed popular customs
could form the basis of legal change.
As customs grow out of the habits and beliefs of specific people, rather
than expressing those of an abstract humanity, legal changes are
codifications of customs, and they can only be national and never universal.
There are two contrasting views on this relationship:
1. Law is determined by the sense of justice and the moral sentiments of
the population, and legislation can only achieve results by staying
relatively close to the prevailing social norms.
2. Law and especially legislation, Is a vehicle through which a programmed
social evolution can be brought about. In general, a highly urbanized and
industrialized society like the US law does play a large part in social
change, and vice versa, at least much more than is the case in traditional
societies or in traditional sociological thinking. [e.g. In the domain of
interfamily relations, urbanization, with its small apartments and
crowded conditions, has lessened the desirability of three-generation
families in a single household. This social change helped to establish
social security laws that in turn helped generate changes in the labor
force and in social institutions for the aged.
4
Law and social change
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Topic Explanation
1.2.1 Law as an instrument of social change
1.2.2 Law as the product of traditions and culture. Criticism and
evaluation in the light of colonization and the introduction of
common law system and institutions in India and its impact on
further development of law and legal institutions in India.
1.3 Questions for self learning
1.4 Let us sum up
1.5 Glossary
1.6 References
1.0 Objectives :
After studying this chapter we will be able to…..
1. Understand the importance of Law as an instrument of social change.
2. We will come to know that Law as the product of traditions and
culture.
3. We will study about the introduction of common law system and
institutions in India and its impact on further development of law and
legal institutions in India.
1.1 Introductions
For decades now law and society theorists have been preoccupied with
attempts to explain the relationship between legal and social change in the
context of development of legal institutions.
They viewed the law both as an independent and dependent and variable
(cause and effect) in society and emphasized the interdependence of the law
with other social systems. In its most concrete sense, social change means
large numbers of people are engaging in group activities and relationship
that are different from those in which they or their parents engaged in
previously. Thus, social change means modifications in the way people
work. Rear a family, educate their children, govern them, and seek ultimate
meaning in life. In addition to law and social change there are many other
mechanisms of change, such as technology, ideology, competition, conflict,
political and economic factors, and structural strains.
1
,1.2 Topic Explanation
1.2.1. Law as an instrument of social change.
Law is the reflection of the will and wish of the society. It is said that if
you want to study any society, you have to study the laws enacted by that
society and you come to know whether the society is developed or wild
world. The law, though it is the product of the society is responsible for the
social \transformations. In fact, there are two modes of this aspect. First is,
“Law changing the society”, which means that the law of the land compels
the society to be changed according to it. And secondly is. “Society changes
the law”, as per its needs. It needs. It means law is made by the society
according to its requirement by its democratic institution i.e. Legislative or
by adopting custom and usage. When law changes the society it is the sign
of beginning of the development of the society. When society changes law it
is the sign of maturity of the society. We can cite the enthusiasm of the
people in the matter of ‘Nirbhaya’ where the commonest of the common
was talking on how the law must be, what must be the punishment etc. here
this compelled the government to consider the sentiments of the society and
set up a commission to give suggestions and untimely the criminal law
amendment bill came into existence. The change required in the society can
be initiated by a single person also and this has been proved in India right
from Raja Ram Mohan Roy; to Mahatma Phule, Mahatma Baseswar, and
Mahatma Gandhi up to Anna Hazare! Thus the demand takes root and
shakes up the government to either reform the existing laws or make new or
even delete the existing unworthy laws.
For this we will have to cite examples for the history of India. When
mahatma Phule’s wife SavitribaiPhule actually started teaching in a school
aimed only for girls it was considered taboo, something not good and would
be affecting the society but this movement gradually became the source of
law where the girls could actually study and develop. Gradually the then
society thought reluctantly adopted this fact and started to send girls to
school this is positive sign of beginning of the development of the society.
Ultimately the girls got into colleges also. This was not only limited to the
Hindu society, finally the Aligarh Muslim college also had some seats for
female students studying. But no dough the lamp was lighted by the phule
couple. This is the ‘Society changes the law’, But per its need, rather
demands. Whereas the law play important role in changing the society too!
2
, Definitions of law: - The laws are variously defined by the scholars.
According to Summer “Laws are actually codified mores”.
Kant defined it as “a formula which expresses the necessity of an action”.
Krabble defines Law as “the expression of one of the many judgments of
value which we human beings make by virtue of our disposition and
nature”.
Green Arnold defined “Law is more or less systematic body of generalize
rules. Balanced between the fiction of performance and the of change,
governing specifically defined relationship and situations and employing
force or the threat of force in defined and limited ways”.
According to Duguit, laws are “the rules of conduct normal men know they
must observe in order to preserve and promote the benefits derived from life
in society.”
According to MacIver and Page “Law is the body of rules which are
recognized. Interpreted and applied to particular situations by the Courts of
the State.”
B.N. Cardozo says “Law is a principle or rule of conduct so established as
to justify a prediction with reasonable certainty that it will be enforced by
the Courts of its authority is challenged”.
Max Weber feels that “Law is an order, the validity of which is guarantee
by the probability that deviation will be met by physical or psychic sanction
by a staff specially empowered to carry out this Sanction”.
Hertzler comments, “Law in effect structures the power (Super-ordinate
Subordinate) relationship in society; it maintains the status quo and protests
the various strata against each other, both in Governmental and non-
governmental organizations and relationship”.
According to Roscoe Pound, “Law is an authoritative cannon of value laid
down by the force of politically organized society”. 12 Anthony Giddens
says “Laws are norms define and enforced by Governments.”
Austin defined Law as “the Command given by a superior to an inferior”.
Some define “Law as the Command of Sovereign of the dictates of the
State.” Sociological view believes that “Law as the rules of right conduct.”
Laws are the general conditions of human activity prescribed by the State
for its members.
Roscoe Pound stated, “Laws must be stable and yet cannot be stand still.”
As defined by Lundberg and others “Social Change refers to any
modification in established patterns of inter-human relationship and
standards of conduct.” 17 The definition is very apt and properly
encompasses all ingredients of the social change. The established pattern of
3
, Inter-human relationship between Caste Hindus and Scheduled Castes was
that of touch-me-not-ism as the same was thought to be polluting them i.e.
the Caste Hindus. The social change in the above dogmatic stratification
really called for modification in the changing and already changed social
scenario following independence in 1947 and following coming in force the
constitution of India. The standards of conduct of Caste Hindus were
required to change in time with Constitutional Provisions. Thus
modification in established patterns of inter-human relationship and
standards of conduct was brought through legal means mainly the
Constitution of India. The equal laws like I.P.C. (Indian Penal Code) /
Cri.P.C. (Code of Criminal Procedure) / Evidence Act etc. and finally and
especially through the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955 and the
Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (Amended with new name in 1976)
and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of
Atrocities) Act, 1989
At the beginning of industrialization and urbanization in Europe,
Bentham expected legal reforms to respond quickly to new social needs and
to restructure society. He freely gave advice to the leaders of the French
revolution, because he believed that countries at a similar stage of economic
development needed similar remedies for their common problems.
However, Savigny believed that only fully developed popular customs
could form the basis of legal change.
As customs grow out of the habits and beliefs of specific people, rather
than expressing those of an abstract humanity, legal changes are
codifications of customs, and they can only be national and never universal.
There are two contrasting views on this relationship:
1. Law is determined by the sense of justice and the moral sentiments of
the population, and legislation can only achieve results by staying
relatively close to the prevailing social norms.
2. Law and especially legislation, Is a vehicle through which a programmed
social evolution can be brought about. In general, a highly urbanized and
industrialized society like the US law does play a large part in social
change, and vice versa, at least much more than is the case in traditional
societies or in traditional sociological thinking. [e.g. In the domain of
interfamily relations, urbanization, with its small apartments and
crowded conditions, has lessened the desirability of three-generation
families in a single household. This social change helped to establish
social security laws that in turn helped generate changes in the labor
force and in social institutions for the aged.
4
