Principle Sources of Indian Law Customs

Presently, ‘Namaste’ is a form of Indian custom that has gained fame worldwide under COVID-19. Like every citizen, not just the Indian Prime Minister joins hands to greet, but many other nations' prime ministers follow the same greeting style. Custom is the habit, pattern, and behaviour universally accepted and followed in any social system. Therefore, most of the laws defined are based on traditions followed for ages. Everyone abides by the law; hence it maintains the balance and brings peace and harmony.

In the current scenarios, law or rules formed in any institution like court are derived from different sources. Hence sources of law are classified into two categories.

• Principal Sources of Law

• Secondary Sources of Law

In this article, we will get into details of sources of law.

Principal Sources of Law- Customs

As per the ancient literature, it is found primitive people ran life wholly based on customs. It was when everything was underdeveloped; lack of resources led to life in specific style by everyone again and again. Thus, a particular activity became a custom. Customs have played a significant role in the development of Hindu Law. Legal entities like the Court and Parliament consider the importance of custom as a source of law in India.

Custom as a source of law is further categorized - 

Without Sanctions- these are the customs that are not compulsory, however, bound to follow due to social obligations. Custom without sanction example, the nearness of the general public beliefs 

With Sanctions- These are the customs imposed by the governing body. Thus, these are the obligatory customs. Sanctioned customs could be either Legal Customs or Conventional Customs.

• Legal Customs- There are legal customs with sanctions that act like a strict rule to be followed by everyone. If anybody does not abide by the legal customs, they will be liable to be punished. Custom in jurisprudence is recognized by the various legal entities like the court. There are legal sanctioned customs that apply to a particular specific geography. Henceforth, a custom that becomes part of place culture, is called Local customs. We have communities who continuously move from one place to another carrier such local customs along with them.  There are general customs which are not specific to a particular local geography. Every citizen of the country follows customs applicable to the whole nation and is called General Customs.

• Conventional Customs - Any agreement in which two involved parties mutually promise and are aware of its notion becomes a conventional custom. The reasonable conventional custom cannot modify any other general rule of the area. Based on the geography, conventional custom are also narrowed down into general and local conventional customs

You must be thinking, at what point a custom becomes a law. Let's answer your query; there are particular prerequisites for a custom to become valid and further convert into law. Let’s see the prerequisites

Essentials of Valid Custom

There are few requisites laid down for the recognition of valid custom. All the customs are not approved in judicial understanding.

• Antiquity- a custom that is ancient or immemorial could be considered as a valid custom.

• Certainty- A clear definition of custom is compulsory so that the idea behind is not vague

• Reasonable- A custom must be rational to support fundamental justice, equality, and good conscience. 

• Mandatory Adherence- A custom is considered valid if all the people follow it without observing any interruptions since ancient times.

• Conformity with Law and public morality- A custom should not be against any law of the country. Law can make any of its customs prohibited, which means it will no longer be a valid custom.

• Unanimous view- A valid custom is universally accepted. Each person of the nation should receive the custom, then only it will be considered accurate.

• Peace and harmony- Everyone should enjoy following a valid custom. It should always bring peace. Then the only custom is considered valid.

• Consistency- There should be consistency and uniformity between the customs. Any two customs that contradict viewpoints should not be considered valid customs.

Fun Facts 

• Do you know requisites for binding any valid custom was laid down by Alle, Blackstone, Carter, Littleton?

• Do you know customs without sanctions backed by public pressure are also termed as positive morality?