NATIONAL LAW INSTITUTE UNIVERSITY,

BHOPAL

In partial fulfilment of the requirement of the project on the subject of POLITICAL SCIENCE
II of fourth Trimester of B.A.L.L.B. (Hons.)

RULE OF LAW

Submitted to: Submitted by:

Professor Dr. Raka Arya Kapil Kumar Verma(2018BALLB39)

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Historical Development

3. Rule of Law- a concept

4. Rule of law in common law countries

5. Criticism

6. Conclusion
 INTRODUCTION

The principle of the Rule of law is one of the many broad principles that regulate the working of
the modern political systems. The principle means that the law should rule not any person
without any restrictions. The principle can be traced to liberal theory of law that suggested that
the law is not a constraint upon individual but it guarantees the rights of an individual. It has
been said that “without law there can be no liberty” because it regulates interrelationship
between other individuals and the state. The concept was widespread known as the Rechtsstaat in
central Europe, supremacy of the law as emphasised in the constitution of the United States. Rule
of law enable us to enjoy rights and freedoms, it also draws the line between the domain of state
and other individual. Although the origin of rule of law is traced to the England but its various
versions were adopted in other common law countries, its main objective was to limit the power
of the king. The Lord justice Coke famously said , “ God and law protecth the king”. English
jurist A.V.is credited with development of the concept of rule of law but various mention of
supremacy of law can be tracked back to works of Chanakya, Plato and Cicero.

Existence of ‘Rule of law’ exists contrary to the rule of man, its considered opposite to the
arbitrary exercise of power. The idea also encompasses within it the principles of
Constitutionalism and limited government. Its law that draws the line between the government
and the governed. On one hand where law protect the people on other hand if law is oppressive is
it still to be obeyed, as was the case in soviet union and Nazi Germany where law itself became
oppressive. The question of law being just fair and reasonable is still debatable.

OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

To understand the rule of law in context of modern state and individual. What is significance of
this broad principle and how states function in accordance with it.

METHOD OF STUDY

The proposed project is based on doctrinal method of data collection

 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Political Theory an introduction by Andrew Heywood