Law, as it is, is the command of the sovereign. Law in its legal sense, as distinguished from other uses of the term, means those principles and rules that govern and regulate social conduct and the observance of which can be enforced in courts. “Law is that portion of the established habit and thought of mankind which has gained distinct and formal recognition in the shape of uniform rules backed by the authority and power of the Government”. Law is the rule of externalhuman action enforced by the sovereign political authority. The state makes law. Violation of state law involves a penalty which is enforced by the Government through the sovereign power of the state. Whatever is not enforceable is not law. Laws of State are applicable to all without exception in identical circumstances.
It is neither desirable nor feasible to control all kinds of activities of people through a uniform set of rules and principles. Civilised societies, therefore, provide and enforce different sets of rules and guiding principles for different kinds of social behaviour.
Therefore, there are several branches of law- Civil law, Constitutionnal law, International law, Industrial and Mercantile law.
Need for Law:
The existence of law is necessary for maintaining of peace and order in the society. In the absence of law, no person will recognise the rights of others. Life cannot be lived peace-fully and business cannot be carried out smoothly without law to regulate the conduct of people and to protect their property and also of the most ruthless, in the absence of law. Take the example of game. A game cannot be played satisfactorily without rules to govern the players.
As a human being, every person comes into contact with others in different capacities; for instances, with sellers as a buyer, with companies as a shareholder, with traders as a purchaser of things, with insurers as assured, with government as a taxpayer, citizen or employee etc.
In all such dealings, a person is expected to observe certain sets of rules which govern each other. It follows that some knowledge of law is necessary for every person. As a matter of fact, an individual is confronted, almost daily, with situations that demand certain knowledge of law, in the absence of which he may suffer on account of legal actions against him. The term ‘Law’ denotes rules and principles either enforced by an authority or self-imposed by the members of a society to control and regulate people’s behaviour with a view to securing justice, peaceful life and social security.
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