Law - Law Dictionary Search Results
Home Dictionary Name: lawLaw
Law [fr. lage, lagea, or lah, Sax.; loi, Fr.; legge, Ital.; lex, fr. ligo, Lat., to bind], a rule of action to which men are obliged to make their conduct conformable. A command, enforced by some sanction, to acts or forbearances of a class: see Austin's Jurisprudence; 1 Bl. Com. 38. A principle of conduct may be observed habitually by an individual or a class. When sufficiently formulated or defined to be observed uniformly by the whole of a class it may become a custom; or it may be imposed on all individuals who consent or are unable to resist its application and the sanction or penalty which is imposed for non-compliance, and in that case it becomes a law. If, in addition, the law and its sanction are imposed by, or by authority of a sovereign, the law becomes 'positive' (see Austin's Jurisprudence). Short of positive law the principle may be called a moral or social law. Generally speaking, jurisprudence is concerned only with positive law, and law in its ordinary legal sense mean...
Civil Law
Civil Law, that rule of action which every particular nation, commonwealth, or city has established peculiarly for itself, more properly distinguished by the name of municipal law.The term 'civil law' is now chiefly applied to that which the Romans complied from the laws of nature and nations.The 'Roman Law'and the 'Civil Law' are convertible phrases, meaning the same system of jurisprudence; it is now frequently denominated 'the Roman Civil Law.'The collections of Roman Civil Law, before its reformation in the sixth century of the Christian era by the eastern Emperor Justinian, were the following:--(1) Leges Regi'. These laws were for the most part promulgated by Romulus, Numa Pompilius and Servius Tullius. To Romulus are ascribed the formation of a constitutional government, and the imposition of a fine, instead of death, for crimes; Numa Pompilius composed the laws relating to religion and divine worship, and abated the rigour of subsisting laws; and Servius Tullius, the sixth king,...
Common Law
Common Law [lex communis, Lat.]. 'The phrase 'common law' is used in two very different senses. It is cometimes contrasted with equity; it then denotes the law which, prior to the Judicature Act, was administered in the three ' superior ' Courts of law at Westminster, as distinct from that administered by the Court of Chancery at Lincoln's Inn. At other times it is used in contradistinction to the statute law, and then denotes the unwritten law, whether legal or equitable in its origin, which does not derive its authority from any express declaration of the will of the Legislature. This unwritten law has the same force and effect as the statute law. It depends for its authority upon the recognition given by our Law Courts to principles, customs, and rules of conduct previously existing among the people. This recognition was formerly enshrined in the memory of legal practitioners and suitors in the Courts; it is now recorded in the voluminous series of our law reports which embody the d...
Existing law
Existing law, this expression under Art. 366(10) means, 'any law, Ordinance, order, bye-law, rule or regulation passed or made before or made before the commencement of this Constitution by any Legislature, authority or person having power to make such law, Ordinance, order, bye-law, rule or regulation', N.B. Jeejeebhoy v. Assistant Collector, AIR 1965 SC 1096: (1965) 1 SCR 636. [Constitution of India, Art. 366(10)]This definition would include only passed by a competent authority as well as rules, bye-laws and regulations made by virtue of statutory power. It would therefore not include administrative orders which are traceables not to any law made by the legislature but derive their force form executive authority and made either for the convenience of the administration or for the benefit or individuals, though the power to make laws as well as these orders was vested in the same authority- the absolute ruler, State of Gujarat v. Vore Fiddali, AIR 1964 SC 1043 (1064). [Constitution o...
Martial law
Martial law, in India, Parliament by law can impose law in any part of the country in case of grave insurrection and provide for indemnity of acts of persons in the maintenance or restoration of order in any area where martial law was in force, validate any sentence passed, punishment inflicted, forfeiture ordered or any other act done under martial law, Commentary on the Constitution of India, Durga Das Basu, Vol. 2, 4th Edn., p. 297, Constitution of India, Art. 34.Martial Law, in the proper sense of the term, means the suspension of ordinary law and the government of a country or parts of it by military tribunals. It must be clearly distinguished (1) from 'military law' (see that title), and (2) from that 'martial law' which forms part of the laws and usages of war. The term 'martial law' is also sometimes used as meaning the common law right of the Crown to repel force by force in the case of insurrection, invasion or riot, and to take such exceptional measures as may be necessary f...
Rule of law
Rule of law, executive instructions cannot override the provisions of law, such a method will destroy the very basis of the rule of law, Muna Lal Jain v. State of Assam, AIR 1962 SC 386.Rule of law, is an absolute supremacy and predominance of regular law as opposed to the influence of arbitrary power; equality before the law or the equal subjection of all classes to the ordinary law courts, constitution is the result of the ordinary law of the land, Introduction to the Study of the Law of Constitution, A.V. Dicey, 2003, pp. 202-203.Means an authoritative legal doctrine, principle or precept applied to the facts of an appropriate case, Wright v. Wright, 904 P 2d 403 (1995).Rule of law, the binding character of judgments pronounced by courts of competent jurisdiction is itself an essential part of the rule of law, and the rule of law obviously is the basis of the administration of justice on which constitution lays emphasis, Daryo v. State of Uttar Pradesh, AIR 1961 SC 1457.Rule of law,...
Administrative law
Administrative law, is a separate body of rules relating to administrative authorities and officials, applied in special administrative court. Dicey's Law of the Constitution, 1st Edn. 1885. Dicey's Law of Constitution, 10th Edn., p. 330. See also Re Grosvenor Hotel, London, (No. 2), 1965 Ch D 1210 at p. 1261: (1964) 3 All ER 354; Re Racal case of Anisminic Ltd. v. Foreign Compensation Commission, (1969) 2 AC 147: (1969) 1 All ER 208 (HL); Breen v. Amalgamated Engineering Union, (1971) 2 QB 175: (1971) 1 All ER 148.Administrative law is understood to mean the law relating to the discharge of functions of a public nature in government and administration. It includes the law relating to functions of public authorities and officers and of tribunals, judicial review of the exercise of those functions, the civil liability and legal protection of those purporting to exercise them and aspects of the means whereby extra-judicial redress may be obtainable at the instance of persons aggrieved. H...
Due process of law
Due process of law, A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras, AIR 1950 SC 27: 1950 SCR 88. [Constitution of India, Art. 21]It embraces the fundamental concept of a fair trial, with opportunity to be heard, Thomas v. Baptiste (PC), (1999) 3 WLR 249.Is a concept adopted by the American Constitution the process of law which hears before it condemns; judiciary can declare a law bad, if it is not in accordance with due process even though the legislation may be within the competence of the legislature concerned, Commentary on the Constitution of India, Durga Das Basu, 6th Edn., Vol. D, p. 83.Is a standard which determines the contents of 'due process' is the fundamental principle of liberty and justice, the essentials of a fair trial, the fundamental fairness etc., , Commentary on the Constitution of India, Durga Das Basu, 6th Edn., Vol. D, p. 83.It has a procedural and substantive meaning, the requirements of procedural due process are public trial, not vitiated by pressure from any mob, impartial ...
Incorporated Law Society
Incorporated Law Society, now termed the Law Society, was founded by Mr. Bryan Holme in 1825, and incorporated in 1831 by Royal Charter; this was surrendered for a new Charter in 1845, by which, as amended by Supplemental Charters in 1872, 1903, and 1909, the Society now remains constituted. The Society was incorporated 'to facilitate the acquisition of legal knowledge, and for better and more conveniently discharging the professional duties of the members of the Society,' under the full title of 'The Society of Attorneys, Solicitors, Proctors, and others not being Barristers practicing in the Courts of Law and Equity of the United Kingdom'; since the charter of 1903 it has been officially (as before them commonly) called 'The Law Society.'The Society first instituted lectures for students in 1833, and was made registrar of attorneys and solicitors in 1843 by the (English) Solicitors Act, 1843 (6 & 7 Vict. c. 73), s. 21.On the decay of the Inns of Chancery, which in their later aspect ...
Procedure established by law
Procedure established by law, does not mean due process of law, A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras, AIR 1980 SC 27.In India as in UK, the legislature is free to lay down any procedure, within the ambit of its legislative power, all that is required to deprive a person of his life or personal liberty is to lay down a procedure by an intra vires enactment, A Commentary on the Constitution of India, Durga Das Basu, 6th Edn., Vol. D, p. 101.In UK the law being State made or enacted and not the general principles of natural justice, procedure established by law means the procedure proscribed by the legislature, A Commentary on the Constitution of India, Vol. D , 6th Edn., p. 101.Means procedure enacted by a law made by the State, that is to say, the Union Parliament or the legislatures of the State, Collector of Malabar v. Erimmal Ebrahim Hajee, AIR 1957 SC 688. (See Constitution of India, Art. 21)Means the procedure prescribed by the law of the State. (Constitution of India, Art. 21)The term ...
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