Q.1 What do you mean by laws?
Ans: Law means some rules and regulations are made by the government of a country, which are followed by all the people of that particular country.
This laws are applicable for each and every one of the country equally.
The law cannot discriminate between persons on the basis of their religion, caste or gender.
Q.2 Why do you think that laws are important for a country?
Ans: Laws are very important because,-
i) All persons in independent India are equal before the law. The law cannot discriminate between persons on the basis of their religion, caste or gender.
ii) Laws are important for maintaining the discrimination problem in the country.
iii) In our democratic country people select their ruler, which are responsible to take care of the people. These rulers do something for the country under the supervision of laws.
iv) All the citizens of a country try to ignore illegal activities, which are not permitted by the law.
v) Laws can protect the fundamental rights of the people.
vi) The government or the judiciary section can make new laws according to the needs of the citizens.
Q3. How Do New Laws Come About?
The Parliament has an important role in making laws.
There are many ways through which this takes place, which are as follows:
i) Often different groups in society that raise the need for a particular law. An important role of Parliament is to be sensitive to the problems faced by people.
ii) The issue of domestic violence was brought to the attention of the Parliament and the process adopted for this issue to become law.
iii) The role of citizens is crucial in helping Parliament frame different concerns that people might have into laws.
iii) From establishing the need for a new law to its being passed, at every stage of the process the voice of the citizen is a crucial element.
iv) This voice can be heard through TV reports, newspaper editorials, radio broadcasts, local meetings – all of which help in making the work that Parliament does more accessible and transparent to the people.
Q4. Write a short note on domestic violence.
Ans: Domestic violence refers to the injury or harm or threat of injury or harm caused by an adult male, usually the husband, against his wife.
Injury may be caused by physically beating up the woman or by emotionally abusing her. Abuse of the woman can also include verbal, sexual and economic abuse.
Q5. Explain the role of the people in unpopular or controversial law made by the government.
Ans: Sometimes a law can be constitutionally valid and hence legal, but it can continue to be unpopular and unacceptable to people because they feel that the intention behind it is unfair and harmful.
Role of the people:
i) People might criticise this law, hold public meetings, write about it in newspapers, report to TV news channels etc.
i) In a democracy like ours, citizens can express their unwillingness to accept repressive laws framed by the Parliament.
i) When a large number of people begin to feel that a wrong law has been passed, then there is pressure on the Parliament to change this.
iii) People who think that the law is not fair can approach the court to decide on the issue.
The court has the power to modify or cancel laws if it finds that they don’t adhere to the Constitution.
QUESTION BANK:
1. What is the importance of laws?
2. Why should we obey the laws?
3. ‘In ancient India, there was no rule of law’, is it true? Justify your answer.
4. How is the role of citizens crucial in helping parliament to frame different laws?
5. Describe a repressive law which was passed by the British.
6. Write few lines on controversial laws.
7. What is meant by the rule of law?
8. What is domestic violence? Which law protects women from domestic violence?
9. How do new laws come into being?
10. State two reasons why historians refute the claim that the British introduced the rule of law in India.
11. Give some examples of unpopular laws.
