| The
Rule of Law |
| C. Rajagopalachari |
| It is lost sight of that the rule of law is the best guarantee of progress and prosperity. It should never be disregarded for electoral advantages that a particular ruling party may gain, which is a fleeting thing compared to the essential and permanent order that is wanted for society. Law is not whatever is enacted by a majority but something that rests on permanent principles and is inherent in the conscience of a community. It is the rule of law, as thus rightly understood, that supports and holds together a community, not the Austinian concept of law. The Sanskrit word dharma denotes it best , the root of dharma being 'to sustain'. The authoritarian notion that the will of the majority in parliament is law is at the bottom of all those pieces of legislation that are hastily and quickly enacted whenever any one of the High Courts or the Supreme Court gives a decision against the Government. It is a debasement of the rule of law as jurists and publicists understood it. There is a Law of laws which must be respected if democracy is to be consistent with civilization. |
| [From Swarajya, February 1960] |
| Contents |
| Liberalism Minoo Masani |
| Liberal
Principles Karl R. Popper |
| Liberalism
and Democracy Karl-Herrmann Flach |
| The
Liberal Agenda for the 21st Century A Liberal International |
| The
Rule of Law C. Rajgopalachari |
| The
Evolution of the Liberal Idea Otto Von Lambsdorff |
| Liberalism in India
D. V. Gundappa |
| Basic
Liberal Values and their Relevance to India in the Current Context An ILG document |
| The
Social Market Economy An ILG document |
| The
Requirements of Social Justice An ILG document |
| Freedom of Expression
and the Right to Know An ILG document |
| Technology
and Human Development An ILG document |
| Active
Citizenship An ILG document |
| Liberal
Priorities for India in the 21st Century A P.E.E/FNSt document |
| The
Essence of Democracy - Not Majority Rule Minoo Masani |