P. Rathinam v. Union of India - Cornell University

Which, according to him, has to be influenced by experience and supported by reason.38. The next important thinker of England after Hooker was the famous Francis Bacon (1561-1626). In hisEssays (the most popular of his works) we find his views on legislators and legislation. Bacon stood out forprogress and utility and was of the view that it was not good to try experiments in legislation. As againstBacon there was Sir Edward Coke, who was a defender of the rights of the Parliament. Mention is then madeabout John Locke (1632-1704) according to whom the laws made must respect the right to liberty andproperty; and laws must be made for the good of the people.39. Ruthnaswamy then takes the reader to France and mentions about Montesquieu (1689-1755), who in hisfamous Spirit of Laws published in 1748, which has been regarded as a great classic of political and legalliterature, rendered immemorial service to legislation and legislatures. In this monumental work, he insiststhat laws and legislation should be in conformity with the spirit of the people, if its traditions, its philosophyof life, even the physical surroundings of the people, including the climate. The journey is then to Germany,where Leibnitz (1646-1717), a philosopher, mathematician and adviser of kings and princes in Germany andEurope, took the view that greatness of law is proved by the fact that great rulers were also great law- givers.Names of Augustus, Constantine and Justinian are mentioned in this regard. The German philosopher furthersaid that the law must serve morality, because what is against morals is bad law.40. Readers then find themselves in Italy and they are acquainted with Beccaria (1739-1794), who through hispamphlet under the title Delict and Crimes published in 1766 brought a revolution in the theory and practiceof punishment, because, according to him, punishment of crime must be used only for the defence of the Stateand the people and not for retribution and revenge which principles were holding the field then.41. As per sequence of time, the next writer to be mentioned is Edmund Burke (1727-1797), who was aparliamentarian, statesman and political412P.Rathinam vs Union Of India on 26 April, 1994thinker. According to him the main essential of good laws and legislation is that the same should be fit andequitable, so that the legislature has a right to demand obedience. He would say there are two fundamentalprinciples of legislation equity and utility.42. Blackstone is a name which is immortal in the world of legal jurisprudence. It is his Commentaries on theLaws of England (1765) which has made him so. He emphasised on the inviolability of common law, freedomof persons and property. After Blackstone, came Bentham (17481832) and the Utilitarians.43. Ruthnaswamy has also acquainted the readers about the views of Plato, Aristotle, Cicero and ThomasAquinas, so also what Voltaire (16941773) had to say. We do not propose to burden this judgment with theirviews; but what was said by Macaulay (1800-1859) has to be noted, because it is he who had drafted ourPenal Code. Macaulay believed in the efficacy of law in improving people and their character. He wrote:"When a good system of law and police is established, when justice is administered cheaply and firmly, whenidle technicalities and unreasonable rules of evidence no longer obstruct the search for truth, a great change ofthe better may be expected which shall produce a great effect on the national character."44. In Chapter 6 of the book, Runthnaswamy has stated that after the principles of Benthamism andutilitarianism, reason, utility and individual liberty had exhausted themselves, humanitarianism occupied thefield and it is this principle which has seen the enactments of statutes like Workmen's Compensation Act,Factories Act and various other statutes dealing with public health, sanitation and weaker sections.Indian Kanoon - http://indiankanoon.org/doc/542988/ 10