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“Dicey’s classical definition of the rule of law is now irrelevant.” Discuss.

By LLT -
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‘The Rule of Law’ was first popularised by Dicey and encompasses primarily a range of basic principles and values which taken together give stability, rationality and consistency to the rule of those with legal power, thereby ensuring that the government only exercises its power in accordance with the law. However, there is a divergence between those such as Dicey who interpret a formal conception of the Rule of Law as a procedural device addressing the manner in which the law was promulgated and the clarity of the subsequent legislation, and those who espouse a substantive conception which in addition passes judgment on the content of the law. Through the case law, it is evident that although Dicey’s classical definition is certainly not irrelevant, the courts have enforced a broader concept of the Rule of Law consisting of formal and substantive values, which is desirable in that it enables a more sufficient protection of citizens’ rights against arbitrary government action.  As a mi
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What does the progress in relation to post-divorce maintenance for women in Indian law tell us about the relationship of law and society in South Asia?

By LLT -
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On 16 December 2012, the events that unfolded on a bus changed the life of one woman dramatically. Four men raped the defenceless woman and beat her; she died two weeks later. On 13 September 2013 the four were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. Whilst it would be naïve to think such events are confined to India, the reaction by certain factions of the public, which blamed the victim, evidences an underlying element of discrimination that remains present in the minds of certain persons within the region (Burke and Major (2014)).  This paper considers whether the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, which aimed to cater for gender neutrality, and its reception by the judiciary tasked with implementing it. It is concluded that whilst progress between the Act and the Uniform Code may have seemed alleviate all forms of discrimination, the substance paints a different picture where religion and societal differences remain at play and often override legislative aims. The legislatio
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The Legal Transplant Doctrine and Comparative Jurisprudence

By LLT -
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Introduction “[T]he law does not exist in a vacuum” - a maxim chanted by many when looking to implement legislative reform. 1 The legal transplant doctrine is one way in which reform can be brought about by adopting the legal systems other jurisdictions. This essay begins by presenting a brief introduction to the legal transplant doctrine, in particular by looking at two competing and polarised interpretations presented by two equally distinguished scholars. It then considers how the case of Leyla Sahin v Turkey 2 ( Sahin ) reflects upon the interpretations of legal transplants; also presenting a brief comparison with subsequent case law in a different contextual and societal setting. It is concluded that the case law has preferred a wider approach to the legal transplants doctrine.  The Legal Transplant Doctrine When looking to reform old laws or implement new ones lawmakers rarely start on a blank canvas. Instead, it is common practice to look to the laws of other juris
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