5 Basic Laws Every Indian Must Know

By Author: Komal Patil
Total Articles: 13
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The Indian Constitution is the longest-written constitution and is also known to be one of the finest and balanced, with equal power distributed between Parliament and Supreme Court. But its length also makes it quite complicated to understand and comprehend, which if you are interested in law, you can learn in several law colleges in India. Not the full constitution, but as citizens, there are some basic empowering laws that we must know about.

1. According to Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, a police officer can arrest anyone driving under the influence of alcohol if he finds 100 ml or more of alcohol in the driver’s blood. In fact, if a person driving refuses to take a Breathalyzer test and the police suspect him/her of being drunk, then they can even legally arrest them without a warrant.

2. Bill Rights Act, Section 23 states that every arrestee has the right to know why or what are they being arrested for. One can ask the reason for which he or she is being detained, and the police must answer.

3. Most people know that to arrest a female offender, a woman constable or officer is mandatory, ...
... as men can’t detain women offenders. But you know that they can only be arrested between 6 AM to 6 PM. Section 51 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 clearly mentions that if male officers feel the need to escort a woman to the police station in case a serious crime is committed, then they would need a written document with magistrate’s signature on it.

4. This may come as a surprise, but if Domestic LPG Consumers face any damage to property or any loss of life because of cylinder explosions, they are entitled to Rs. 40-50 Lakh compensation from the gas agency. One can claim this by sending a copy of the FIR, filed in the nearest police station, to the concerned gas company.

5. As per Automotive (Amendment) Bill, 2016, if a rider has been fined for something once, they can be excused for the same till midnight. Meaning, if you have been fined once for not wearing a helmet while riding your bike, you can present your challan receipt if you’re stopped for the same reason again on the same day to avoid paying challan twice. But it is better not to misuse this law.

These are just a few of the basic rights that can come in handy if need be. But there are several more which lawyers know and work their way around. If you want to know more about laws and rights, pursue law as a career then you must take up a professional degree course from the best law universities in India spread in different states of the country.