Legal Awareness: Today's Desideratum

 

 

"At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice, he is the worst. 

                                                    ~Aristotle

The idea that laws should bring out the best in society when they are effectively enacted and enforced is reflected in this remark. But in the absence of law and justice, chaos and the worst sides of human nature may result. This statement given by Aristotle resembles to the situation that our nation at large is facing at present i.e., not only bona fide laws but a proper implementation and awareness about basic rights and laws to the citizens of the nation is also of paramount importance.

 

Why do we need awareness?

We elect lawmakers, who amends and also create new laws for us, we also have police who are there to check whether the laws are properly implemented and followed, and then we’ll ignore to get acknowledged about our rights and laws thinking that why should we get aware about the laws, but at the same time we forget that these ministers and policemen are ones among us and if they are not aware about the laws then how will they formulate and check the implementation of laws. Thus, a proper awareness is needed, it could be understood with help of a recent case of 23^rd August in which the Supreme Court, through Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, highlighted the necessity of a proper training for policemen nationwide and also directed for the same, so that they can understand a basic difference between “Cheating” and “Criminal breach of trust” (Reference for detail). From this scenario, we can observe how worst the situation is when it comes about proper implementation and awareness of laws.

 

If we are aware about our laws, then why do we even need lawyers?

Most of us are of the thoughts that why should we be aware about the laws and if we ourselves are aware about the laws then what is the need of advocates and lawyers.

Here comes the most important part that there’s a difference between common people also known as laymen (in words of law) and lawyers or advocates. The main difference is that laymen must have knowledge about their basic rights and laws which are or might be a part of their daily life whereas lawyers must have thorough knowledge of the laws and in addition to it, they must be good with tactics, procedure, and technicalities of laws and courts especially.

                                            

Gravity of awareness

In today’s time acquaintance with laws and rights have become a basic need, we are getting duped nearly at every moment without getting it known and we might not know that even there are remedies to it.

Here below are some major points through which we can understand the significance of awareness of laws, they are as follows:

       1.   Promotes Compliance

People are more inclined to abide by the law when they are aware of it. While awareness of the law encourages voluntary compliance, ignorance of the law might result in inadvertent infractions. 

       2.  Empowers Individuals and Protects Rights

Being aware of the law gives people the ability to defend their rights. For instance, knowing labor rules guarantees that employees can speak up for just treatment.

When someone's rights are violated, having legal awareness makes it easier for them to seek justice, access legal resources, and comprehend their legal options.

     3.  Reduces Corruption and Abuse of Power

People are less likely to engage in corruption or abuse of power when they are aware of the law and can hold public officials and organizations accountable.

Being cognizant of the law ensures that the law is administered consistently and equitably, which in turn fosters transparency in governance.

      4.  Facilitates the Implementation of Laws

Public collaboration can be fostered via awareness campaigns regarding new laws or legal reforms, which will facilitate a more efficient and effective implementation process.

Knowledgeable citizens can offer insightful criticism on laws, helping to improve their execution and refinement.

Conclusion

An informed legal system is essential to a functional society. Effective legal awareness raising necessitates a multifaceted strategy that includes community involvement, communication, and education. It guarantees that people may carry out their obligations, exercise their rights, and help build a community that is fair and just. Without awareness, even the most well-crafted laws can fail to achieve their intended purpose, leading to injustice and social disorder.