INTRODUCTION
A right is not a claim or demand but something which is not wrong. Natural Rights Theory as propounded by John Locke calls rights as pre-political which were available to man in his state of nature. These three human rights of life, liberty and estate were ensured to individuals by virtue of the ethical code of mutuality and moral order. The effort to safeguard, protect and promote basic Human Rights continues in every generation in every civilization. New rights arise from the roots of the old. Today we have broadened the field of Human Rights thought and action to new areas and population. The development of Human Rights and then recognition and protection is done with the support of Jurisprudence.
WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS?
“The core of human rights discourse is that it is a right to which only human beings are entitled, which gives meaning to the essence of humanity, and without which humanity necessarily loses those special attributes that make it human”. Ajomo had earlier defined human rights in similar terms inter alia: “human rights are inherent in man; they arise from the very nature of man as a social animal. They are those rights which all human beings enjoy by virtue of their humanity”.
According to Joel Feinberg, “Human Rights as moral rights held equally by all human beings, unconditionally and unalterably” For Feinberg Human Rights are moral claims based on primary human needs.[1]
Human rights are those liberties, immunities and assistance by which, through accepted contemporary values, all human beings should be able to demand the rights in the society which they live.
Human Rights are inherent rights which are made for protection, safeguard and development of humans all over the world and these rights cannot be waived off on someone’s will or whim. As said by some American Attorney, “If you remove them from any human being, he will become less than human. They are part of the very nature of a human being, and attach to all human beings everywhere in all societies, just as much as do his arms and legs.”
Human Rights are also defined as moral rights which every human being ought to have every time and everywhere which contrasts a being as moral and rational than the other. In other words, idea of human rights familiarize with morality and rationality but can be said as limitation or challenge to this definition, are new born, infants, juvenile, lunatics. These humans have rights but they lack sense of morality and rationality.
WHAT IS JURISPRUDENCE?
Jurisprudence originated from the Latin word ‘Juris-prudentia’, whereby ‘juris’ means law and ‘prudentia’ means skill or knowledge. Therefore, jurisprudence is skill or knowledge of law and its application. It covers the whole body of legal principles in the world. It deals with those relations of human and society which are regulated by law. It is a normative evaluation of basic legal values and ideas which impart validity and recognition to legal system.
It is conceptional analysis between law and socio-political society, which provides significance to the legal system. Rapid changes in this progressive society has given birth to new issues and dynamic law, has lead to evolution of jurisprudence. In other words, evolution of society brings changes in the law to tackle the problems through pragmatic approach has given rise to functional jurisprudence i.e. law and justice.
Professor Gray defined, “Jurisprudence more or less in the same manner. He opined that jurisprudence is the science of law, the statement and systematic arrangement of the rules followed by the courts and the principles involved in these rules.”
HUMAN RIGHTS JURISPRUDENCE
Human rights are described as inalienable, fundamental, God-given etc. the basic purpose is that these rights are not created by constitution and other codes or any supreme authority but they have to declare and preserve those rights. This can be also said as human rights can exist as shared norms or human moralities which are supported and protected by strong reasons or as legal rights of a person.
Incidentally, human right generate from the realistic insight of ancient and medieval humanism. In the classical literature of
Prehistoric Greece from 5th century B.C. we come across a striking expression of the belief in the power exercised by the gods on human community which was based on law. According to the Ancient Greece writers, the god establishes a law which stand above the duties and prohibitions imposed by the rules of the community.
In Roman law there was dissimilarity between national law (jus civile) and the common law to all nations (Jus gentium). ‘Jus natural’ was the law of nature which is fixed and unchallengeable, higher to all human laws derived from the dictates of right reason.
In middle ages, a number of Acts were enacted to show the superiority of Human Rights. The principle of the Habeas Corpus Acts latent in the 39th clause of Magna Carta was acknowledged already in 1188 by Alfonso IX. Charters of liberty are steps towards the realization and implementation of Human Rights. Magna Carta of 1215, Petition of Rights of 1628; Habeas corpus Act of 1679, Bill of Rights of 1689 are some of such steps taken in England.
THE INDIAN CONTEXT
According to D.D. Basu, “Human Rights as those minimal rights which every individual must have against the State or other public authority by virtue of his being a member of the human family, irrespective of any other consideration”[2]
Development of jurisprudence and legal theory in India owes as much to ancient hindu legal thinkers as it owes to western jurists and legal philosophers. The ancient Indian legal thinkers expounded their own indigenous legal system which was based on sound principles of reasoning and human wellbeing and excelled in many respects from other legal systems of the world. Commenting on ancient Indian jurisprudence, Mayne observed:
“Indian law has the oldest pedigree of any known system of jurisprudence, and even now it shows no sign of decrepitude. At this day it governs races of men, extending from Kashmir to Capecomorin, who agree in nothing else except their submission to it.”
ANCIENT HUMAN RIGHTS JURIPRUDENCE
The positive law embodies certain values which holds universal validity, like Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (desires), Moksha (salvation) were expounded by ancient Indian philosophers and thinkers years ago with a view to establish a cordial social order by striking a balance between inner and outer, spiritual and material aspect of life.
“Dharmasastras” and the “Arthasastras” and other legal treatises of the history have revealed an incredible system, which regulates the duties of Kings, judges, subjects and judicial as well as legal procedures. The ancient concept of Dharma enabled citizens to inculcate sense of discipline in conducting themselves in society. The message is “Dharma” as the absolute value, which fastens kings and citizens, men and women.
Human rights achieve meaning only when there is an independent judiciary to enforce rights. The administration of justice always remained separate from the executive; it is as a rule independent in structure and spirit. It was the Hindu judicial system that first realized and acknowledged the significance of the separation of the judiciary from the executive and gave this fundamental principle a realistic shape and form. The case of Anathapindika v. Jeta descript in the monastic rules of vinaya pitaka,’ is an unblemished demonstration of this principle. According to it, a Prince and a private citizen submitted their cases before court of law and the court decided against the Prince. The Prince accepted the decision as a matter of course and as binding on him. The evolution of the principle of separation of the judiciary from the executive was largely the result of the Hindu conception of law as binding on the sovereign.
As Nagendra Singh remarks, “The individual in ancient India existed as a citizen of the State and in that capacity he had both rights and obligations. These rights and duties have largely been expressed in terms of duties (Dharma) – duties to oneself, to one’s family, to other fellowmen, to the society and the world at large. The basis of ancient human rights jurisprudence was Dharma – the ideal of ancient Indian legal theory was the establishment of socio-legal order free from traces of conflicts, exploitations and miseries. Such a law of “Dharma” was a model for the universal legal order.”[3]
MODERN HUMAN RIGHTS JURIPRUDENCE
With the progress of Indian Society, Constitution of India came into force on 26th January 1950 with 395 Articles and 8 Schedules which is one of the most elaborate fundamental laws ever adopted. The Preamble to the Constitution declares India to be a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular and Democratic Republic. The term ‘democratic’ signifies that the Government gets its authority from the spirit of the people. It gives a feeling that they all are equal “irrespective of the race, religion, language, sex and culture.” The Preamble to the Constitution pledges justice, social, economic and political, liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, equality of status and of opportunity and fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation to ail its citizens. With this evolution citizens are also expected to be self restrained and self disciplined and also conscious about their rights and duties.
The Indian Constitution in its Chapter Third envisaged seven fundamental rights with several Directive Principles for the establishment of a welfare polity in India. The 44th Amendment reduced them to six and accepted right to property as a mere legal (not fundamental) right of the citizen.
Similarly, several directives have been accepted as fundamental in the governance of the country. The rights to information, primary education and pollution free environment have come on the periphery of fundamental rights. As democracy matures in India, the judiciary is increasingly insisting on the development of human rights jurisprudence and the legal implementation of social legislation for the attainment of human rights in India.
Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 there are certain legislations which directly or indirectly protect the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of mankind in multidimensional approach. All these are in accordance with the mandate of Human Rights instruments as well as in accordance with the Constitutional provisions.
The Indian Constitution is a document rich in human rights jurisprudence. This is an elaborate charter on human rights ever framed by any State in the world. Part 3 of the Indian Constitution may be characterized as the ‘Magna Carta’ of India. The Judiciary in India plays a significant role in protecting human rights. The Indian Courts have now become the courts of the poor and the struggling masses and left open their portals to the poor, the ignorant, the illiterates, the downtrodden, the have-nots, the handicapped and the half-hungry, half-naked countrymen.
CONCLUSION
The concept of Human Rights Jurisprudence in India is prevalent from the ancient time and continues. There are certain legislations, which directly or indirectly protect the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of humankind in multidimensional approach. All these are in accordance with the consent of Human Rights instruments as well as in accordance with the Constitutional Provisions.
[1] Joel Feinberg, “Social Philosophy”, 1973, Prentice Hall, N.J p. 85
[2] D.D Basu, “Human Rights in Constitutional Law”, 1994, Prentice Hall, Delhi, p. 5
[3] S.N. Dhyani, Fundamentals of Jurisprudence: The Indian Approach (Allahabad: Central Law Agency, 1992) Pg.79.
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