P-Law as an Instrument of Social Change-India Context

8/10/2019 P-Law as an Instrument of Social Change-India Context

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LAW AS AN INSTRUMENT OF SOCIAL CHANGES

Law is a form of Social Science. Societ an! law are closel relate! to eac" ot"er. Law tells t"e

nat#re to li$e t"e social life an! t"is also increases wit" t"e Economic% Scientific an!

Tec"nolo&ical 'ro&ress. Law also c"an&es wit" Social C"an&es an! 'las an im'ortant role in t"ef#lfillment of Social Nee!s% so for t"e f#lfillment of social nee!% t"ere is a 'ro$ision (

constit#tional amen!ment an! t"is is t"e res'onsi(ilit of )#!iciar t"at law w"ic" $iolates t"econstit#tional 'ro$isions% '#(lic interests an! f#n!amental ri&"ts s"o#l! (e !eclare! $oi!. Le&al

reforms "a$e (een at t"e centre of t"e a&en!a for strate&i*in& &en!er )#stice in In!ia. Uniform

Ci$il Co!e is mer&e! in t"e Article+ ,, ( In!ian Constit#tion as a res#lt of social c"an&e. It

si&nifies a #niform co!e of con!#ct wit"o#t cast% reli&ion% 'arenta&e% comm#nit an! c#lt#ral

reco&nition for all citi*ens of co#ntr an! also Artical+- /0rotection of life an! 'ersonal li(ert1

as a res#lt of social c"an&e. In t"is article new 'rison )#ris'r#!ence ri&"t to S'ee! Trial% Ri&"t to

Free Le&al Ser$ice% Ri&"t to H#man 2i&nit% Ri&"t A&ainst Tort#re "a$e (een ma!e some of t"e

com'onents of t"e f#n!amental ri&"ts. Law is a me!i#m t"ro#&" w"ic" social o()ects can (e

ac"ie$e!. So% c"an&e of law is m#st wit" social c"an&es% ot"erwise law will (e of no $al#e.

Law is roote! in social instit#tions% in socio+economic networ3. T"ese social factors infl#ence t"e

co#rse of law or t"e !irection of le&al c"an&e. T"is is t"e o#tcome of 'ersonal an! socialinteractions w"ic" are $aria(le an! often #n're!icta(le. At t"e same time% law ma itself c"an&e

norms in $ario#s was. For e4am'le% in free In!ia% le&al a(olition of #nto#c"a(ilit is an attem't

to c"an&e a lon&+stan!in& social norm. 5et it "as not s#ccee!e! m#c" !#e to ina!e6#ate social

s#''ort. T"#s t"ere is a reci'rocal relations"i' (etween law an! societ. T"e term /social c"an&e1is also #se! to in!icate t"e c"an&es t"at ta3e 'lace in "#man interactions an! inter+relations.

Societ is a /we(+relations"i'1 an! social c"an&e o($io#sl means a c"an&e in t"e sstem of

social relations"i' w"ere a social relations"i' is #n!erstoo! terms of social 'rocesses an! social

interactions an! social or&ani*ations. T"#s% t"e term% /social c"an&e1 is #se! to in!icate !esira(le

$ariations in social instit#tion% social 'rocesses an! social or&ani*ation. It incl#!es alterations in

t"e str#ct#re an! t"e f#nctions of t"e societ. Closer analsis of t"e role of law $is+7+$is social

c"an&e lea!s #s to !istinis" (etween t"e !irect an! t"e in!irect as'ects of t"e role of law.

. Law 'las an im'ortant in!irect role in re&ar! to social c"an&e ( s"a'in& "a$e a !irect im'act

on societ.For e4am'le8 A law settin& #' a com'#lsor e!#cational sstem.

-. On t"e ot"er "an!% law interacts in man cases in!irectl wit" (asic social instit#tions in a

manner constit#tin& a !irect relations"i' (etween law an! social c"an&e. For e4am'le8 A law

!esi&ne! to 'ro"i(it 'ol&am.

Law 'las an a&ent of mo!erni*ation an! social c"an&e. It is also as an! in!icator of t"e nat#re of

societal com'le4it an! its atten!ant 'ro(lems of inte&ration. F#rt"er% t"e reinforcement of o#r

(elief in t"e a&e ol! 'anc"aat sstem% t"e a(olition of t"e a("ora(les 'ractices of #nto#c"a(ilit%c"il! marria&e% sati !owr% etc are t'ical ill#strations of social c"an&e (ein& (ro#&"t a(o#t in t"e

co#ntr tro#&" law.

Law is an effecti$e me!i#m or a&enc% instr#mental in (rin&in& a(o#t social c"an&e in t"e

co#ntr or in an re&ion in 'artic#lar. T"erefore% we re)#$enate o#r (elief t"at law "as (een

'i$otal in intro!#cin& c"an&es in t"e societal str#ct#re an! relations"i's an! contin#e to (e so. As

of to!a% t"e !ecisions of t"e Co#rt are not )#st (ein& teste! on t"e to#c" stone of social )#stice%

(#t in!ee! t"e are (ein& cite! of as 'rec#rsors to /social ri&"ts1. T"e Co#rt "as 'ro+acti$el an!

$i&oro#sl ta3en #' to ca#se of social )#stice an! "as &one to t"e e4tent of artic#latin& newer

social ri&"ts s#c" as t"e ri&"t to foo!% ri&"t to "ealt"% ri&"t to e!#cation T"#s% t"e marc" of law is


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clearl in fa$o#r of S#'reme Co#rt "a$in& 'erforme! a 'ro+acti$e role in social c"an&e of t"e

lanis"in& masses. It certainl "as acte! as a catalst in t"e 'rocess of social transformation of

'eo'le w"erein t"e !il#tion of caste ine6#alities% 'rotecti$e meas#res for t"e wea3 an! $#lnera(le

sections% 'ro$i!in& for t"e !i&nifie! e4istence of t"ose li$in& #n!er #nw"olesome con!itions% etc%

are t"e ill#strio#s e4am'les in t"is re&ar!s. Social c"an&e in$ol$es an alteration of societ9 itseconomic str#ct#re% $al#es an! (eliefs% an! its economic% 'olitical an! social !imensions also

#n!er&o mo!ification. Howe$er% social c"an&e !oes not affect all as'ects of societ in t"e samemanner.

W"ile m#c" of social c"an&e is (ro#&"t a(o#t ( material c"an&es s#c" as tec"nolo&% new

'atterns of 'ro!#ction% etc% ot"er con!itions are also necessar. For e4am'le% li3e we "a$e

!isc#sse! it (efore% le&al 'ro"i(ition of #nto#c"a(ilit in free In!ia "as not s#ccee!e! (eca#se of

ina!e6#ate social s#''ort. Nonet"eless% w"en law cannot (rin& a(o#t c"an&e wit"o#t social

s#''ort% it still can create certain 'recon!itions for social c"an&e. Moreo$er% after in!e'en!ence%

t"e Constit#tion of In!ia 'ro$i!e! far+reac"in& i!elines for c"an&e. Its !irecti$e 'rinci'le

s#&&este! a (l#e+'rint for a new nation. T"e !ereco&ni*in& of caste+sstem% e6#alit (efore t"e

law% an! e6#al o''ort#nities for all in economic% 'olitical an! social s'"eres were some of t"e

"i&" 'oints of t"e In!ian Constit#tion. Some areas w"ere law "as &i$en t"e infl#ence for social

c"an&e are8. Area of a&rarian reform 'olic an! le&islation9

-. Area of im'lementation of #nto#c"a(ilit a(olition law9

:. T"e normati$e as'ects of em'loment an! e!#cational reser$ation for t"e sc"e!#le!

castes an! sc"e!#le! tri(es #n!er t"e Constit#tion9,. T"e allie! fiel! of a(olition of (on!e! la(o#r9

;. T"e 'ro(lem of s#(stanti$e im'act of c"an&es in t"e famil law marria&e% e6#al ri&"ts of

women to in"eritance an! !owr.

For '#r'oses of constit#tional com'etence% t"ese actions are c"aracteri*e! as t"ose comin& #n!er

t"e writ )#ris!iction of t"e S#'reme Co#rt of In!ia #n!er Article :- of o#r Constit#tion an! t"e

$ario#s Hi&" Co#rts% #n!er Article --0IL? matters. T"e S#'reme Co#rt of

In!ia "as (een a(le to s"a'e a''ro'riate reme!ies for a $ariet of sit#ations on acco#nt of t"ewi!e !iscretionar 'owers for &rantin& constit#tional reme!ies t"at "a$e (een conferre! on it as

'er t"e lana&e of Article :- of t"e Constit#tion. F#rt"ermore% #n!er Article , of t"e

Constit#tion of In!ia% t"e S#'reme Co#rt1s r#lin&s are consi!ere! to (e t"e /law of t"e lan!1 an!

(ecome (in!in& 'rece!ents for all co#rts an! tri(#nals in t"e co#ntr1s le&al sstem. Hence% t"eS#'reme Co#rt1s !ecisions in 0#(lic Interest Liti&ation >0IL? matters "a$e 'ro&ressi$el s"a'e! a

#ni6#e )#ris'r#!ence t"at &i$es !#e wei&"t a&e to t"e interests of t"e #n!er'ri$ile&e! an!(ac3war! sections in societ. A si&nificant conse6#ence of t"is is t"at creati$e reme!ies !esi&ne!

for 'artic#lar fact+sit#ations come to (e wi!el re'orte! to ( Co#rts all o$er t"e co#ntr. In t"is

wa% t"e r#lin&s &i$en in 0IL cases create an acti$e )#!icial !ialoe wit"in t"e w"ole le&al

sstem.

Bihar Legal Support Society v. The Chief Justice of India & Ors:

@T"e ma)orit of t"e 'eo'le of o#r co#ntr are s#()ecte! to t"is !enial of /access to )#stice1 an!

o$erta3en ( !es'air an! "el'lessness% t"e contin#e to remain $ictims of an e4'loitati$e societ


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w"ere economic 'ower is concentrate! in t"e "an!s of a few an! it is #se! for 'er'et#ation of

!omination o$er lar&e masses of "#man (ein&s T"e strate& of '#(lic interest liti&ation "as

(een e$ol$e! ( t"is Co#rt wit" a $iew to (rin&in& )#stice wit"in t"e eas reac" of t"e eas reac"

of t"e 'oor an! !isa!$anta&e! sections of t"e comm#nit.B

Keshavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala.

= a narrow ma)orit of +< it was r#le! t"at 0arliament1s 'ower of amen!ment was not a(sol#tean! it co#l! not amen! t"e /=asic str#ct#re1 of t"e Constit#tion% w"ic" in t"e o'inion of t"e

)#!&es consiste! of elements s#c" as !emocrac% r#le of law% sec#larism% se'aration of 'owers

an! )#!icial re$iew. T"e sai! !ecision !i! not c#rr fa$o#r wit" t"e In!ira Gan!"i+le!

&o$ernment of t"e !a an! t"ree of t"e )#!&es w"o r#le! for t"e ma)orit were s#'erse!e! in t"e

matter of a''ointment to t"e 'osition of C"ief D#stice of In!ia in :. Ne$ert"eless% t"e !ecision

"a! &i$en a clear si&nal in !efense of )#!icial in!e'en!ence.

eople!s "nion for Civil Li#erties v. "nion of India$

w"ere t"e Co#rt so#&"t to ens#re com'liance wit" t"e 'olic of s#''lin& mi!+!a meals in

&o$ernment+r#n 'rimar sc"ools. T"e mi!+!a meal sc"eme "a! (een la#nc"e! wit" m#c"

fanfare a few ears a&o wit" t"e m#lti'le o()ecti$es of enco#ra&in& t"e enrolment of c"il!ren

from low+income (ac3&ro#n!s in sc"ools an! also ens#rin& t"at t"e recei$e! a!e6#ate n#trition.Howe$er% t"ere "a! (een wi!es'rea! re'orts of 'ro(lems in t"e im'lementation of t"is sc"eme

s#c" as t"e 'ilfera&e of foo!&rains. As a res'onse to t"e same% t"e S#'reme Co#rt iss#e! or!ers to

t"e concerne! &o$ernmental a#t"orities in all States an! Union Territories% w"ile &i$in& ela(orate

!irections a(o#t t"e 'ro'er '#(licit an! im'lementation of t"e sai! sc"eme.

Conclusion

Law is a sstem of r#les an! i!elines w"ic" are enforce! t"ro#&" social instit#tions to &o$ern

(e"a$ior% w"ere$er 'ossi(le. It s"a'es 'olitics% economics an! societ in n#mero#s was an!

ser$es as a social me!iator of relations (etween 'eo'le. Contract law relates e$ert"in& from

(#in& a (#s tic3et to tra!in& on !eri$ati$es mar3ets. 0ro'ert law !efines ri&"ts an! o(li&ations

relate! to t"e transfer an! title of 'ersonal an! real 'ro'ert. Tr#st law a''lies to assets "el! for

in$estment an! financial sec#rit% w"ile tort law allows claims for com'ensation if a 'ersonsri&"ts or 'ro'ert are "arme!. If t"e "arm is criminali*e! in le&islation% criminal law offers means

( w"ic" t"e state can 'rosec#te t"e 'er'etrator. Constit#tional law 'ro$i!es a framewor3 for t"e

creation of law% t"e 'rotection of "#man ri&"ts an! t"e election of 'olitical re'resentati$es.

A!ministrati$e law is #se! to re$iew t"e !ecisions of &o$ernment a&encies% w"ile international

law &o$erns affairs (etween so$erei&n states in acti$ities ran&in& from tra!e to en$ironmental

relation or militar action. T"e le&al res'onse to a &i$en social or tec"nolo&ical 'ro(lem ist"erefore in itself a ma)or social action w"ic" ma a&&ra$ate a &i$en 'ro(lem or alle$iate an!

"el' to sol$e it.

Indian society

Ei&"teent" cent#r In!ia an! to!a1s In!ia8 (#t a contrast On t"e one "an! we "a$e a sta&natin&tra!itional c#lt#re an! societ% in fact in a state of !eca!ence not witnesse! (efore !eca!ence

con!emne! ( most mo!ern In!ian from Ram Mo"an Ro on wor!s.

On t"e ot"er "an! we "a$e a still tra!itional societ in t"e t"roes of a creati$e e4citement% of

mo!ernisin& itself% of emer&in& as a new nation remainin& t"oro#&"l its own an! roote! in its

c#lt#re et ta3in& its 'lace in t"e contem'orar worl!.

T"e inter$enin& nineteent" cent#r was 'i$otal in t"at it saw t"e initiation of t"is 'rocess t"at

(ro#&"t a(o#t an enormo#s transformation in t"e reli&io#s% social% economic% 'olitical an!

c#lt#ral s'"eres of In!ian societ. Man interrelate! factors w"ere in w"at in t"is transformation.


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T"e =ritis" Ra) infl#ence! In!ian life t"ro#&" man c"annels8 a!ministration% le&islation% trea!s%

new sstems of comm#nication% inc"oati$e in!#strialisation an! #r(anisation% all "as &reat

infl#ence of t"e societ as a w"ole% (eca#se e$er meas#re in some wa interfere! wit" some

tra!itional 'atterns of life.

T"e s#m total of t"ese infl#ences on t"e life an! i!eas of t"e 'eo'le force! t"em to a!)#st t"eir'atterns of life to t"e new circ#mstances t"#s affectin& a contin##m of social c"an&e.

T"e socio+reli&io#s reformers of In!ia an! t"e sc"olar1s e!#cators an! missionaries of t"e westalso contri(#te! to t"is transformation of societ.

=#t t"e often nee!e! t"e s#''ort of t"e Go$ernment t"e sole a#t"orit to enact or re'eal an

laws% t"e laws w"ic" "a$e (een $itall instr#mental in effectin& social c"an&es of $ario#s sorts

t"ro#&" wit" $arin& !e&rees.

Law is &enerall !efine! as t"e set of 'rinci'les an! relations esta(lis"e! ( a Go$ernment an!

a''lica(le to a 'eo'le% w"et"er in t"e form of le&islation or of c#stom an! 'olicies reco&nise!

an! enforce! ( )#!icial !ecision.

It incl#!es an written or 'ositi$e r#le or collection of r#les 'rescri(e! #n!er t"e a#t"orit of t"e

state or nation or ( t"e 'eo'le in its constit#tion. In t"e li&"t of t"e a(o$e (roa! connotation of

/law1% it can (e are! t"at no societ or ci$ilisation can a''ear an! e4ist wit"o#t a certain cor'#s

of law.

E$en t"e e!ic societ of ancient In!ia was no e4ce'tion. I was ( an! lar&e an e&alitariansociet wit" s#fficient e6#alit (etween men an! women. T"ere was least "ierarc"ical !i$ision of

societ an! $er little class or caste e4cl#si$eness. In t"e later e!ic 'erio!% w"en t"e

2"armas"astras >law+(oo3s? a''eare!% women1s stat#s $is+a+$is men !ecline!% t"e societ

witnesse! "ierarc"ical !i$isions% t"e fo#r fol! !i$isions alon& t"e $arnalines crstallise! 3in&s"i'(ecame e4cl#si$e 'reser$e of t"e 3s"atrias% t"e =ra"min s#'remac o$er ot"er castes was

esta(lis"e!. All t"ese &ot sanctions of t"e 2"armas"astras wit" t"e s#''ort of t"e r#lin&

a#t"orities. Later 2"armas"astras an! Go$ernment f#rt"er consoli!ate! t"ese c"an&es. Man#

im'ose! still more restrictions an! !e'ri$ations on women an! t"e s"#!ras. He also 'rescri(e!

!ifferent rites% rit#als an! norms on t"e occasions li3e (irt"% marria&e% !eat"% etc. T"e entire

societ incl#!in& t"e #''er strata followe! t"em. T"e clima4 came w"en t"e In!ian societ &ot

fe#!al c"aracter (eca#se of t"e law+&i$ers !#rin& t"e G#'ta an! t"e 'ost+G#'ta 'erio!s% w"en

'l#ralit of t"e societ (ecame 'rono#nce!.Wit" t"e esta(lis"ment an! enforcement of M#slim c#stoms an! tra!itions% t"ro#&" t"e more or

less left t"e Hin!# societ alone% t"e In!ian societ saw $ertical !i$isions. Howe$er t"e ri&i!it of

t"e M#slim law "el'e! intro!#ce a certain !e&ree of social ri&i!it amon&st t"e Hin!#s an! le! to

f#rt"er im'ositions #'on t"e Hin!# women. T"e r#le of con$ersion in t"e S"ariat offere! man a

!e'ri$e! section of Hin!# societ an o''ort#nit to im'ro$e t"eir lot ( )oinin& t"e r#lin&

reli&io#s comm#nit. Wit" t"e M#slim law in 're$alence t"e =ra"min s#'remac an!'rominence in t"e societ !i''e! rat"er low% es'eciall !#rin& t"e re&ions of Fir#* T#&"la6

Si3an!er Lo!l an! A#ran&*e(. T"e im'osition !iscontin#ation an! reim'osition of t"e Di*a on

t"e Dimmis% accor!in& to Islamic law alwas (ecame t"e !eterminin& factor in t"e relations"i'

(etween t"e Hin!#s an! t"e M#slims. Howe$er t"e Law of Esc"eat in t"e M#&"al 'erio!enco#ra&e! social mo(ilit.

On t"e w"ole% "owe$er in ancient an! me!ie$al times% law as a !eclaration of a&e+ol! c#stoms aco!ification of 'ractice% rat"er t"an an instr#ment of social c"an&e. Law an! social reform

(ecame lin3e! wit" t"e emer&ence of conce'ts of li(eral socialism an! t"e welfare state of

'olitical '"iloso'".

2#rin& =ritis" r#le% se$eral laws effecte! far+ reac"in& c"an&es in In!ian societ. T"e C"arter Ac

of :: remo$e! t"e le&al (arrier on t"e E#ro'ean colonisation of In!ia. Section of "is Act

alto&et"er a(olis"e! t"e conce't of an &o$ernin& caste% sect or se4% i.e. !iscriminations of

$ario#s s'orts in '#(lic a''ointments were remo$e!. = Act of ,: sla$er was a(olis"e! in

In!ia.


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T"e 'roclamation of =ritis" Crown >;? (ro#&"t all t"e In!ian s#()ects on e6#al footin&

irres'ecti$e of caste% sect or se4. T"e 'rinci'les of t"e r#le of law an! t"e e6#alit (efore law% as

intro!#ce! ( t"e =ritis"% &a$e a )olt o $ario#s !i$isions an! s#(+!i$isions in t"e societ.

T"is le! to t"e formation of lar&er social soli!arit an! 'eo'le (e&an to feel as a nation.

O($io#sl% t"e 'ractice of caste &ot miti&ate!% to an e4tent.=esi!es% $ario#s laws were 'asse! t"at im'ro$e! t"e con!itions of women in 2ecem(er - t"e

'ractice of sati was !eclare! ille&al an! '#nis"a(le ( criminals co#rt as c#l'a(le "omici!e. T"is"el'e! to wi'e o#t t"e e$il 'ractice of sati% t"o#&" stra cases mi&"t "a$e occ#rre! "ere an! t"ere.

T"e =en&al Relations JJI of ; an! ill of K, !eclare! infantici!e ille&al an! e6#i$alent to

committin& a m#r!er% an! an Act of K ma!e it com'#lsor for 'arents to re&ister t"e (irt" of

all (a(ies an! 'ro$i!e! for $erification of female (a(ies as 'ractice! amon& t"e =en&alis an! t"e

Ra)'#ts. /T"e Hin!# Wi!ows1 Remarria&e Ac >;


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T"e critics o'ine t"at merel t"e enactment of laws an! e$en t"eir enforcement% "as limite!

im'act on t"e societ. T"e sa t"at t"e r#ral areas are "ar!l affecte! ( s#c" le&islations% an!

e$en in t"e #r(an areas t"ese laws are not s#ccessf#l on an s#(stantial scale.

Accor!in& to t"em% t"e transformation of societ is an e$ol#tionar 'rocess% not a re$ol#tionar

one. So% law ma lose its sanctit an! &races (eca#se of t"e non+com'liance on t"e 'art of t"esociet.

W"at t"e em'"asise on more is t"at #nless an! #ntil a law &ets t"e sanction of t"e societ as aw"ole it ma "a$e no effect. An! lo&icall% if t"e collecti$e 'sc"e is rea! for a c"an&e t"ere is

no nee! for a law.

2#rin& t"e M#ran an! M#&"al 'erio!s man laws were 'rom#l&ate! to effect c"an&es in t"e

societ. =#t once t"e in!i$i!#al r#ler or !nast left t"e scene all t"e laws in res'ect of societ

lost t"eir stren&t".

A#t"oritarian &o$ernment are s#''ose! to enforce laws more !o&&e!l% (#t t"e also "a$e (een

seen to "a$e faile! in (rin&in& a(o#t social c"an&es.

T"at e4ten!% e$en t"e re$ol#tionar laws (ro#&"t in ( t"e =ritis" In!ia Go$ernment were ma!e

'ossi(le onl w"en enli&"tene! In!ians felt a nee! an! cam'ai&ne! for social reforms.

Societ alwas see3s to 'rotect its interest. So% w"ene$er ant"in& is !one in its fa$o#r% it

c"eerf#ll acce'ts t"e offer. Unless t"e law t"erefore reflects t"e "o'es% as'irations an! 'ro&ress

of t"e societ it can ne$er ta3e effect.Hence t"e law as 'er t"e c"oice of a small &ro#' of r#lin& in!i$i!#al% wit"o#t winnin& t"e

confi!ence of t"e masses% is (o#n! to fail in its o()ecti$e.

We e$en e4am'les of laws meant to !o &oo! to t"e societ "a$in& faile!. =#t t"is "a''ens onl

w"en t"ere is a wi!e &a' (etween t"e &o$ernin& a#t"orities an! t"e 'eo'le es'eciall in re&ar! tocomm#nication.

If t"ere is eno#&" 'olitical will 'ro&ressi$e laws can effect social c"an&es. T"e E#ro'ean societ

to!a &reatl owes its form an! colo#r to t"e law.

er recentl a =ritis" co#rt &rante! two c"il!ren t"e ri&"t to lea$e t"eir 'arents an! li$e on t"eir

own. In t"e T"ir! Worl!% T#r3e is t"e most re$ealin& e4am'le.

T"e mo!ernisation of t"e T#r3is" societ was t"e res#lt of t"e will of M#stafa amal 0as"a w"o

too3 "#n!re!s of meas#res in t"e $er first ear of "is r#le. T"e r#le of Castro in C#(a is anot"er

s#c" e4am'le.An! in a 're$io#s era% !i!n1t t"e laws com'ile! in S"ariat c"an&e t"e societ from anilia to t"e

Islamic era Howe$er it ma (e 'ointe! o#t t"at t"e lea!ers of s#c" mo$ements were $er

'o'#lar an! co#l! carr t"eir 'eo'le wit" t"em.

E$en if laws t"emsel$es cannot effect social c"an&es t"e can 'ro$i!e 'rotection to t"ose w"o

en!ea$o#r to ma3e 'ositi$e c"an&es in societ or 'ro$i!e le&alit an! $ali!it to t"ose (eneficial

c"an&es "a$in& alrea! ta3en 'lace.T"e #tilit of law in reformin& societ !e'en!s on t"e mac"iner to im'lement it. F#rt"ermore% a

tra!itionall !ie"ar! societ cannot acce't c"an&e easil. No law can '#s" !ie"ar! societ cannot

acce't c"an&e easil.

No law can '#s" it into acce'tin& c"an&e e$en if we ta3e t"e laws a&ainst c"il! marria&e an!female infantici!e9 we notice t"at t"ese o(no4io#s 'ractices "a$e (een wi'e! o#t.

In s#c" cases% we cannot wait for t"e im'#lse for c"an&e o come from societ at lar&er. T"eenli&"tene! m#st see3 to e!#cate an! s'rea! awareness amon& t"e masses.

Unless i&norance is !is'elle!% law will remain in t"e stat#te (oo3s an! no c"an&e wort" its name

will ta3e 'lace.

Documents

P-Law as an Instrument of Social Change-India Context