On Necessity Of Civil Disobedience In Democratic Societies And Its Role

Abidance by law is the foundation of a democratic legal system. It’s citizens’ obligation to obey the laws. Throughout history the cases of violating citizen’s rights have happened frequently. The justice under the governance of majority rule is sometimes injustice in disguise. Individuals feel helpless and desperate, they have to comply with the majority’s will. Civil Disobedience is a means of restraining the majority’s will. By acting disobediently the dissident’s issue will be judged in court publicly.The term Civil Disobedience was first coined by Henry David Thoreau. What makes an act of civil disobedience? When can civil disobedience be justified? How should the law respond to dissenters engaged in civil disobedience? Discussions of civil disobedience focus on these questions.This paper has six main chapters. Chapter one tries to explain the definition thoroughly and contrast civil disobedience with normal offences and other dissents. The features are publicity, illegality, non-violence, conscientiousness, communication. Chapter two justifies the act of civil disobedience through mode of action and motivation for acting. Chapter three discusses the right to engage in civil disobedience and the punishment on civil disobedience. Chapter four focus on the necessity of civil disobedience in a democratic society. Chapter five considers the role of civil disobedience.