Rule of Law Law and Legal Definition
According to the philosophy of rule of law, the law of the land is supreme over the acts of the government as well as private persons and the relationship between the state and the individual are regulated by the law of the land. Rule of law signifies a legal-political regime to protect the rights of citizens from arbitrary and abusive use of government power.
The salient features of rule of law as enumerated by Prof. Fuller states that all persons, including government officials shall abide by the laws, laws must be prospective in nature and should be published, laws should be written with reasonable clarity to avoid contradictions and should not command the impossible. In addition, laws should remain consistent while periodic revisions are to be done in appropriate circumstances and official action must be consistent with the stated law. The rule of law guarantees government accountability and protects the social rights of individuals. The existence of an independent and transparent judiciary is a fundamental aspect of the rule of law.