Introduction

The dictionary meaning of law is “the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.”^[1] Hence law means protecting the peace and interests of people and punishing the wrongdoer with the help of legislation and legal codes. Law is very important for a society for it serves as a norm of conduct for citizens. The law is important because it acts as a guideline as to what is accepted in society. Society is a ‘web relationship’ and social change means a change in the system of social relationships where a social relationship is understood in terms of social processes and social interactions and social organizations. Thus, the term, ‘social change’ is used to indicate desirable variations in social institutions, social processes, and social organization. It includes alterations in the structure and functions of society.^[2]

The scope and subject matter of law have gone through different stages of evolution. Gone are the days when people were exploited and made to suffer silently. In the past, people were not aware of their rights. Law not only serves the country in making a peaceful environment but also helps in protecting the interests of the people.

And, ‘Order’ is the state of peace and discipline in which citizens interact with each other without any conflicts.

Therefore, the law-and-order approach employs reactive policing, supported by various forms of legislation, to forcefully remove Indigenous people from public places.^[3]

Law-Order and Society

Law is an effective medium or agency, instrumental in bringing about social change in the country or any region in particular. Therefore, we rejuvenate our belief that law has been pivotal in introducing changes in the societal structure and relationships and continues to be so.

A closer analysis of the role of law vis-à-vis social change leads us to distinguish between the direct and the indirect aspects of the role of law.

1. Law plays an important indirect role regarding social change by shaping a direct impact on society. For example, A law setting up a compulsory educational system.

2. On the other hand, law interacts in many cases indirectly with basic social institutions in a manner constituting a direct relationship between law and social change. For example, a law designed to prohibit polygamy.^[4]

Law plays an agent of modernization and social change. It is also an indicator of the nature of societal complexity and its attendant problems of integration. Further, the reinforcement of our belief in the age-old panchayat system, the abolition of the abhorable practices of untouchability, child marriage, sati, dowry, etc are typical illustrations of social change being brought about in the country through laws.

Law certainly has acted as a catalyst in the process of social transformation of people wherein the dilution of caste inequalities, protective measures for the weak and vulnerable sections, providing for the dignified existence of those living under unwholesome conditions, etc. are the illustrious examples in this regard.

Experiences with Law-Order Approach

Experience in several urban centers demonstrates that such law-and-order approaches may only be partly successful and even unsuccessful in eliminating Indigenous public place dwelling. They are likely to result in temporary or local displacement, whilst overall cycles of incarceration, alcohol abuse, and public place dwelling continue, and also risk breaching anti-discrimination legislation.^[5]

Implementation of such a law-and-order approach has often been the result of a law-and-order crisis as perceived by politicians and the local press.^[6]

This improper execution of law and order makes it impossible for the government to establish peace in the society because forced physical removal to distant remote settlements is also equally repugnant and a violation of civil liberties. As a general principle, any movement of Indigenous people from the public spaces they occupy due to conflicting public needs should be carried out through a process of negotiation no matter how protracted, and supported by a planned set of alternate accommodation and servicing options acceptable to all parties.

Conclusion

In this article, the author has tried to show what is law and order, how the law-order approach is connected with society, and how successful this law-order approach is. The author has established that law and order are very important for society to function peacefully because

Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behaviour, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics, and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. But this law-order approach has been unsuccessful in the past because of improper implementation. Steps have been taken by the government and various educational institutions to spread awareness about the subject matter of law and order. Various educational institutions are set up to educate the people of the laws. People doing their major in law become professional lawyers. The general public who are not aware a lot about sections, subsections, or code of conduct take the help of lawyers who fight their case in front of the judge. Today the scope and subject matter of law are becoming so wide and important. The population size in a county also determines the magnitude of the requirement and measures of the law. The government is also taking various measures to educate the public about their basic rights and how they can avail the help of the judicial system. It can be said that law and order play the role of a protector and a punisher side by side. Without law and order, a country can’t even dream of doing its affairs properly. For it is the people that make a country and if the people are not safe or are in peaceful hands then the whole existence of a country can be in danger. Hence a country that wants to prosper should take effective measures to keep the law and order to protect its people.

^[1] Bharti Walia, ‘Importance of Law and Order in a Country’ (lexresearch, 1 May 2020) <https://lexresearchhub.com/importance-of-law-and-order-in-a-country/> accessed 3 January 2021.

^[2] Kishan Tiwari, ‘Importance of Law in Society’ (legaldesire, February 1, 2017) <https://legaldesire.com/article-importance-of-law-in-society/> accessed 3 January 2021.

^[3] P. Memmott, ‘C. Chambers’, International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home (2012).

^[4] Kishan Tiwari, ‘Importance of Law in Society’ (legaldesire, February 1, 2017) <https://legaldesire.com/article-importance-of-law-in-society/> , accessed 3 January 2021.

^[5] P. Memmott, ‘C. Chambers’, International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home (2012).

^[6] P. Memmott, ‘C. Chambers’, International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home (2012).