Natural Law Law and Legal Definition
Natural law is the permanent underlying basis of all law. Contents of natural law are set by nature. It has got validity everywhere.
Natural law is distinguished from positive law. Positive law is the body of law imposed by a state. For example, privilege of voting is not a natural right but a privilege conferred by positive law. Natural law is both anterior and superior to positive law.
Natural law is defined as “a rule which so necessarily agrees with the nature and state of man, that, without observing its maxims, the peace and happiness of society can never be preserved”. [Borden v. State, 11 Ark. 519, 527 (Ark. 1851)]
The knowledge of natural law can be attained merely by the light of reason and from the fact of their essential agreeableness with the constitution of human nature.
Following are the examples of natural law:
(1)common access to air, running water, sea, and seashore.
(2)duty of parents to provide support for their minor children.
(3)equality of treatment.
(4)sanctity of human life.
(5)relation between step-parent and step-child.
(6)obligation of parents to provide their minor children with the necessaries of life.
