Law is the body of
principles recognised and applied by the State in the administration of
justice. It is a body of rules which guides human conduct in the society and is
a means of social control. Every society has its
own legal system and is imposed by the authorities. Those who deviate from the
law are usually given the punishment of various kinds such as fines,
imprisonment, exile, or death. Law means justice, morality, reason, order, and
righteousness from the view point of the society. It is term used to define
legal order which represents the regime of adjusting relation, and ordering
conduct by the systematic application of the force of organized political
society.
It is a whole body of
legal precepts which exists in a politically organized society. The function of
law is to achieve justice, stability, and peaceful change. It is helpful to
control natural tendencies and certain human instincts. It ensures
co-operation. It acts as social rule and as an instrument of state. It is used
as a means to reduce disharmony in the society.
Law is a social
function, an expression of human society concerning the external relations of
its individual members. The purpose of society and social relations determine the
nature, purpose and function of law. In a static society, law can be used as a
powerful means of social change. Law introduces a new pattern of social behavior
which is more conducive to the prosperity of the society. When there are odious
customs, they can be put down by the law which abolishes those customs, and
make it an offence to practice them, as seen in the case of Triple Talaq. Thus,
law can be used as an instrument to achieve peaceful social change.
Social legislations in India
before and after the independence clearly shows the efforts of the state and
the society to bring the legal norms in line with the existing social norms as
well as to improve the social norms on the basis of new legal norms.
