Customs as a Legal Source Explained
Customs as a Legal Source Explained
DEPARTMENT OF LAW
SCHOOL OF LEGAL STUDIES
BABASAHEB BHIMRAO AMBEDKAR UNIVERSITY
(A CENTRAL UNIVERSITY)
VIDYA VIHAR RAEBARELI ROAD
LUCKNOW – 226025
INDEX
I. Acknowledgement 1
III. Objective 3
V. Introduction 5
XIV. Conclusion 22
XV. Bibliography 23
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
project. The blessing, help and guidance given by her from time to
about to embark.
while doing the project. I would also like to thank my parents and
their experience.
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
Co. Company
V. Versus
SC Supreme Court
HC High Court
PC Privy Council
Bom Bombay
Mad Madras
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OBJECTIVES
figure out how the customs are adopted in various other legal systems,
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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
"black letter" methodology, focuses on the letter of the law rather than
assignment.
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Introduction
Imagine the times when there were no codified laws, there can be several questions in one’s
mind like would it result to anarchy or how would you govern and regulate the particular
class and sect of people? In ancient times when there were no laws, the people were governed
by the customs prevalent in their particular community. Those customs were taken seriously
by the community and were enforced and implemented on each and every community of that
particular sect. Customs is a very authentic and binding source of law, because of the historic
value they have. Custom is a habitual course of conduct observed uniformly and voluntarily
by the people. Custom occupies an important place in regulation of human conduct in almost
Custom is created by the people, by their unconscious adoption of a certain rule of conduct
whenever the same problem arises for solution and its authority is based on nothing but its
long-continued use and recognition by the people. Custom is some kind of special rule which
is followed from time immemorial. Custom can simply be explained as those long-established
practices or unwritten rules which have acquired binding or obligatory character. Customs are
the earliest sources of law and form the basis of the English Common Law system as we see
it today. They can be described as cultural practises which have become definite and backed
by obligation or sanction just by virtue of widespread practise and continue presence. Law
1
Lawyered [Link]
Jul 08,2019
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With the passage of time and the advent of modern civilization, the importance of custom as
a source of law diminished and other sources such as judicial precedents and legislation
gained importance.
Custom, as a source of law, involves the study of a number of its aspects: its origin and
nature, its importance, reasons for its recognition, its classification, its various theories, its
distinction with prescription and usage, and the essential requisites of a valid custom.
Meaning of Custom
The three Sanskrit words Achara (आचार:), Vyavahara (व्यवहार:) and Sadachara (सदाचार:)2
mean ‘religious observances in practice’; ‘the rules of civil law, denoting the right conduct’;
and ‘the routine of righteous men’ respectively. These words, therefore, reflects that custom
is, continuous course of conduct since age-old times. In Hindi the word ‘custom’ means
Some says that the word ‘custom’ is based on Latin word ‘Consuetudo’, some says that the
word ‘Custom’ is derived from the word ‘Consuetus’, while others say that it is the part
participate of word ‘Consuescere’ which means ‘accustom’. Some says that it is derived from
two words ‘con’ means, ‘expressing intensive force’ and ‘suescere’ means ‘become
accustomed’.
The word ‘custom’ literally, grammatically, or ordinarily means; tradition, practice; usage;
2
The Tribune [Link]
Sep 13, 2020 08:37 PM (IST)
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fashion; mode; manner; shibboleth; unwritten rule; way of doing things; formal; praxis; style;
etiquette; routine; habit; usual; rite; Solemn; unwritten code; conventional social behaviour;
etc.
A custom is a continuing course of conduct which may by the agreement or express approval
of the community, has come to be regarded as fixing the norm of conduct for members of
society. When people find any act to be good and beneficial, apt and agreeable to their nature
and disposition, they use and practice it from time to time, and it is by frequent use and
multiplication of this act that the custom is made. Custom is a rule of conduct which is
spontaneously observed by the society as a tradition, habit and usage, but not in pursuance of
law.
The chief characteristic of the custom is that, it is a generally observed course of conduct.
The best illustration of the formation of such habitual course of action is the mode in which a
path is formed across a common. One man crosses the common, in the direction which is
suggested either by the purpose he has in view, or by mere accident. If others follow in the
same track, which they are likely to do after it has once been trodden, a path is made. Custom
may be considered as a fact and as a law. As a matter of fact, it is simply the frequent and
free repetition of acts concerning the same thing; as a law, it is the result and consequence of
that fact. Custom is a habitual course of conduct observed uniformly and voluntarily by the
people concerned.
Custom may be described in its legal sense, consisting of those rules of human conduct which
are established and evidenced by long usages founded upon pre-existing rules sanctioned by
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the will of the community. The term ‘custom’ is used in a variety of senses: local custom,
usage, (sometimes known as conventional custom), general custom and the custom of the
courts. The first three are solely related to custom; and the fourth relates to precedent or stare
decisis.
Definitions of Custom
Custom has been defined by various jurists as per their notion, understanding, philosophy,
views and opinion. The different jurists also defined custom on the basis of source, validity,
practice, history & utility. Some of the important definitions of custom are as follows:
For Salmond, a valid custom has absolute legal authority which as the force of law in
• General Custom
• Local Custom
• C.K. Allen - Defines custom as “legal and social phenomenon growing up by forces
and imitation.”
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Jurisprudence: The Legal Theory by B.N. Mani Tripathi 19th edition Pg. 193
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• J.L. Austin – According to him “Custom is a rule of conduct which the governed
Austin’s ideas were often seen in contravention to customary law because for him, the
political superior was the only source of law and customs were not ‘real law’. They
• Robert Keeton – According to him “Customary law may be defined as those rules
whom the rules are applicable, which are adopted by the courts and applied as source
of law, because they are generally followed by the political society as a whole, or by
has existed either really or hypothetically from time immemorial and has received the
power of law in a specific territory, though in spite of or not steady with the general
particular district or in a particular sect, class or tribe, has from long usage
4
Law Bhoomi [Link]
essential/#:~:text=Allen%20defines%20custom%20as%20%E2%80%9Clegal,settled%20by%20a%20political%2
0superior.%E2%80%9D February 16, 2020
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Jurisprudence: The Legal Theory by B.N. Mani Tripathi 19th edition Pg. 193
6
Wikipedia [Link]
7
Indian Kanoon [Link]
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• Sir Henry Maine - According to him, “Custom is conception posterior to that of
Themistes or judgments.” 8 Themistes were judicial awards which were dictated to the
King by the Greek goddess of justice. He explained, “Themistes, Themises, the plural
• Roman Law - Customs played a major role in the legal system of ancient Rome
before codification, after the codification of law their importance were decreased as
customs became a secondary source of law. Test of reasonableness and antiquity was
• Hindu Law - Most of the law in Smritis and Commentaries are customs. They have
given great importance to customs and said that customs should be followed. After
• Mohammedan Law - It is said by many jurists that customs were not expressively
disapproved by the Prophet Mohamad. It was on the basis of customs that Sunnis
interpreted many provisions of law, especially the law of divorce and inheritance.11
• English Law - They have played a major role in moulding English law. They are
known as ‘Common Law’ in English law. Common law is a customary law and thus
they can neither be against God, nor against law of reason, and they are always
8
Cambridge [Link]
18221888/4995CE35358E5D1B3B078F4627B52A23
02 January 2018
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Jurisprudence: The Legal Theory by B.N. Mani Tripathi 19th edition Pg. 193
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believed to be good and necessary. The common law according to 19th and 20th-
• French Law - French system does not give such importance to customs.13
Custom and usage seems to mean one and the same thing, but the two essentially differ in
certain ways. A usage is a repetition of acts whereas custom as the general rule arises from
the repetition since times immemorial. Usage derives its authority from the consent of the
parties to a transaction whereas custom is binding irrespective of the consent by the parties.
In simple words, a usage may exist without a custom, but a custom cannot exist without a
usage associated to it. Merely attaching the antiquity clause (i.e., a particular has been
followed from time immemorial) doesn’t make it binding. In Noble v. Kennoway14, Lord
Mansfield said, “it is no matter if the usage has only been for a year.”
Prescription is limited to the rights of a person and his predecessors; thus, it is a species of
custom. When a course of conduct is practiced for a long time, it gives rise to rule of law, to
become custom and if it gives rise to the right, it is prescription. Prescription is confined to
the personal right whereas custom extends to a particular place of community and unlike
custom; prescriptions need not to be followed from time immemorial. For a custom to be
12
Jurisprudence: The Legal Theory by B.N. Mani Tripathi 19th edition Pg. 195
13
Jurisprudence: The Legal Theory by B.N. Mani Tripathi 19th edition Pg. 195
14
StuDocu [Link]
1/6265569/view
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valid it must be in conformity with the principle of natural justice, it is not in case of
prescription. In simple words, custom is a source of law while perception is a source of right.
it must be prevalent from time immemorial, it must have been in existence for a long
• C.K. Allen - According to him, “a mere habit, practice, or fashion which has
binding, must have been used as long that the memory of man.”16
In England, the year 1189 i.e., the reign of Richard I King of England has been fixed
The Allahabad High Court as early as 1895 laid down in KaurSen v. Mamman, that it
would be inexpedient to apply the English ‘rule of 1189’ in India as it would destroy
In Gokul Chand v. Parvin Kumari AIR 1952 SC 25118, the Supreme Court ruled and
denied to measure the validity of Custom from 1189 AD but stated explicitly that it
15
iPleaders [Link] June 12, 2019
16
iPleaders [Link] June 12, 2019
17
Jurisprudence: The Legal Theory by B.N. Mani Tripathi 19th edition Pg. 195
18
Indian Kanoon [Link]
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• Reasonableness/No Arbitrariness - The second significant legal trial of a
be helpful and advantageous to the general public. On the off chance that any parties
face difficulties in a custom, the parties must fulfil and convince the court that a
particular custom is unreasonable. This means the weight of evidence lies upon the
must be traced back to the time of its origin. The unreasonableness of a custom must
be so great that its enforcement results in greater harm than if there were no custom at
all.
The judicial committee of the Privy Council, delivering its judgment through Sir
James Colville in Raja Varma v. Ravi Varma observed that a custom which is not
The Bombay High Court, in Narayan v. Living20, held that a custom allowing a lady
to forsake her better half at her pleasure and marry again without mutual agreement to
be shameless and arbitrary on one spouse. The topic of reasonability is one of law for
the court.
The standard which the courts apply has been characterized by the Divisional Court of
the King’s Bench in Produce Brokers co. v. Olympia oil and coke co., considered
grounds of valid customs as “reasonable and legitimate and for example, sensible,
19
Jurisprudence: The Legal Theory by B.N. Mani Tripathi 19th edition Pg. 198
20
Law Column [Link] November 20, 2020
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• Morality - A custom which is immoral or opposed to public policy cannot be a valid
custom. Courts have declared many customs as invalid as they were practised for
In Mathura Naikin v. Esu,Naikin [(1880) ILR 4 Bom 545], 21the Bombay High Court
has held that the custom of adoption of girls for immoral purposes, like dancing is
In case of Balusami v. BalaKishna [AIR 1957 Mad 97], 22the custom permitting
otherwise that there were a break and a pause by a particular community in the
following the custom in a court of law, then the court may have the discretion to get
continuity.
In case of Muhammad Hussain Forki v. Syed Mian Saheb23, it was held that unless
21
BnW Journal [Link]
law/#:~:text=Bombay%20High%20Court%20on%20account,preferred%20to%20be%20the%20custom
24/04/2020
22
Lawyers Club India [Link]
23
Scribed [Link]
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• Conformity with Statute Law - No custom can be in contravention to the existing
law of the land. Any practise, however widespread and accepted, if found in violation
contrary to the statutory law. A custom should necessarily yield where it conflicts
India’s the position is clear that custom must not be opposed to statute law, as the
same thing has been held by the Indian Supreme Court in Darshan sing v. Naimum
• Certainty - The most important test of a valid and essential custom is that a
particular custom must be specific and less from ambiguity. If a particular custom is
ambiguous, vague and not understandable by the parties then the particular custom
will be declared as null and void by the court. A custom, however ancient, must not be
In Wilson v. Willes (1806), 24it was held that a custom must be certain and not vague.
valid custom must be observed as a right. It means that custom must have been
followed by all concerned without recourse to force and without the necessity of
permission of those who are adversely affected by it. It must be regarded by those
conduct.
24
The Student Room [Link]
21 September 2018
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According to Carter, “Custom is effectual only when it is universal or nearly so. In the
exist.”25
• Must Not be Opposed to Public Policy - A valid custom should not be opposed
to public policy. In this sense, public policy implies the principles on which the social
laws are based. In nut shell a custom is valid if it not contrary to justice, equity or
In case of Budanso v. Faturr, 26it was held that a custom which would enable a
married woman to marry again during the life time of her husband without dissolving
can’t involve hypothesis yet should dependably involve reality. In like manner, one
custom can’t be inferred and deduced from another custom. Custom in contravention
legal relations. A mere voluntary practice not conceived of as being based on any rule
25
iPleaders [Link]
July 8, 2019
26
iPleaders [Link]
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Transformation of Custom into Law
There are two theories regarding the transformation of custom into law, which are as follows:
• Historical Theory - The main exponents of this theory are Karl Von Savigny, his
disciple Puchta, Blackstone, and Sir Henry James Summer Maine. According to
Savigny, custom is per se law27. He says law is based on custom. A custom carries its
of any declaration or recognition by the state. Sir Henry Maine regards custom as
also contends that great many laws were brought in not only without the wishes of the
people but against the wishes of the great mass of them. Allen also pointed out that all
this theory, the growth of law does not depend upon the arbitrary will of any
springs from an inner sense of right. Law has its existence in the general will of the
people. The Historical theory has been criticized by Paton as “The growth of most of
the customs is not result of any conscious thought but of tentative practice”
• Analytical theory - The main exponent of this theory is Austin. According to him,
custom is not law in itself, but it is a source of law. If a custom is not recognized by
the legislation and approved by the judiciary, it will not become a law. Gray 29also
27
Jurisprudence: The Legal Theory by B.N. Mani Tripathi 19th edition Pg. 200
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says that true view is that the law is what the judges declare. The legislation,
precedents, customs and morality are all sources of law. According to Holland,
customs are not law when they arise but they are largely adopted into laws by State
recognition. A custom is a law only to the extent to which, and from the time, when
the sovereign sanctions it. According to him, custom is a legal material and source of
law. This view is also supported by Salmond. Gray also concedes that custom is one
of the sources of law but it is certainly not the sole source of law. The Analytical
theory has been criticized by Allen in these words- “Customs grow by conduct and it
Classification of Custom
• Customs can be mainly classified into two types which are as follows:
A. Legal Customs
B. Conventional Customs
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1. Custom Without Sanction - These are those customs which are merely non-
directory. They are altogether seen because of the nearness of the general public
beliefs which is contrary to the views expressed by Austin in his positivist morality
theory.30
2. Custom with Sanction - These are the customs which have been implemented by
the State. These customs are upheld by authorization by the different courts in their
pronouncements.31
These Customs with Sanction have two types which are as follows:
A. Legal Custom - The legal customs are those whose legal authority is
absolutely unequivocal. These customs work as the coupling rule of law. They
have been perceived by the courts and have turned into a piece of the tradition
that must be adhered to. They are upheld by the courts in their judicial
town or then again, a zone. Be that as it may, they don’t infer land
their customs with them wherever they go. They also are called local
30
Jurisprudence: The Legal Theory by B.N. Mani Tripathi 19th edition Pg. 200
31
Jurisprudence: The Legal Theory by B.N. Mani Tripathi 19th edition Pg. 200
32
Toppr [Link]
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customs. Consequently, in India local customs might be separated into
two classes; Land local custom ‘and individual local custom. These
customs are law just for a specific locality, sects or family. A local
wins all through the nation and comprises one of the wellsprings of the
custom should likewise fulfil certain conditions on the off chance that
resolution law of the nation and must be in presence from the time
immemorial.
34
It is a setup whose authority is contingent on its acknowledgement and the
the parties just, on the off chance that it has been acknowledged and
33
iPleaders [Link]
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Toppr [Link]
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A conventional custom is authoritative on the parties not in light of any
legitimate specialist, but since of the way that it has been explicitly or
In the case of Asarabulla v. Kiamtulla, 35the Privy Council ruled that where
agreement enforceable by law then, the same shall not be enforced by the law.
Those are:
that the contracting parties are fully aware of it. There is no fixed
recognised as binding.
• It must be reasonable.36
35
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36
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CONCLUSION
Customs is a cultural idea which comes into existence with the existence of the society and
defines a normal blueprint of conduct, which is the characteristic of life. The influence of
custom can be traced in any legal system as directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly,
customs govern the society and form the basis of large number of laws. But with the passage
of time and the advent of contemporary civilisation, the importance of custom as a source of
It has already been told that customs were of great importance before the state came into
existence. Before the state. Customs was the only recognized source of law. When the state
came into existence, it played a very less role to legislate laws and it mainly recognized most
of the customs. Customs has been recognized more or less in almost all the systems. English
common law is the product of a judicial decision of the King’s courts. It is further to be noted
that with the passage of time, Customs have decreased in value. The state took the
responsibility to legislate on different matters. Thus, legislated laws became the primary
source of law and legislation and precedents now have more importance than customs.
Therefore, it can be seen that Customs are a very important source of law, which have their
historical roots in the earliest and most primitive of societies, and still hold relevance. Society
is constantly in the process of establishing newer practices which might in due time turn into
usages or customs. We depend on customs and are governed by them, knowingly or not. The
English Common law can be interpreted as a formalization of existing customs, and therein
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Book
Case Laws
• Asarabulla v. Kiamtulla
• Budanso v. Faturr
• Harprasad v. Shivdayal
• KaurSen v. Mamman
• Narayan v. Living
• Noble v. Kennoway
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• StuDocu [Link]
university/llb/lecture-notes/custom-1/6265569/view
• The Student Room[Link]
/law/custom-in-common-law
21 September 2018
• The Tribune [Link]
source-of-law-140300
Sep 13, 2020 08:37 PM (IST)
• Toppr [Link]
law/principle-sources-of-indian-law-customs/
• Wikipedia[Link]
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