Law for the Common Man

Contents: Foreword. Introduction. 1. The law. 2. The offences. 3. First Information Report (FIR). 4. Powers of the police. 5. Principles governing grant or refusal of bail. 6. The criminal trial. 7. Traffic challan and accidents. 8. Dishonour of cheques. 9. Cruelty for demand of dowry and dowry deaths. 10. Compensation claims in accident cases. 11. The constitution of India. 12. Public interest litigation. 13. Rights of consumers. 14. Municipal laws. 15. Relationship of landlords and tenants. 16. Transfer of property. 17. Law of inheritance. 18. The labour laws. 19. Commercial transactions. 20. Settlement of disputes by arbitration. 21. Right of maintenance. 22. Divorce.

"This book, Law for the Common Man, is an attempt by the author to introduce \'the man in the street\' to the basics of law. It is an accepted fact that the law and its observance constitute the basic framework of civilized society and, as such, it is of utmost importance that the common man is aware of the basics of law to meet his day-to-day needs to ensure that he does not digress and act contrary to the provisions of the law of the land.

Obedience of law is mandatory in a civilized society and its disobedience can lead to adverse consequences. Violation of civil law can lead to mental agony, loss of property, payment of compensation and the like. In case the provisions of a statute of criminal law are violated, the perpetrator can be interrogated, arrested, harassed by the police and locked up in judicial custody.

The authorities are expected to perform their functions allocated under the statute and, in case of non-performance, the sufferer may invoke the jurisdiction of courts for issuance of a mandate. Any wrongful act by a public servant, or the public servant exercising power beyond what is vested in him, can be dealt with by taking the matter to a court of law, be it a tribunal, consumer court or civil court. The court is said to be \'the house of correction\'.

Matters adjudicated by different courts of law on diverse issues are a part of the text. As such, the book will make the common man aware of his rights, the statutes of law and their enforceability."