Col Shiv Choudhary (Retd.)
shivchoudhary2@icloud.com
Stand at any busy Indian road crossing for just two minutes. You will see red lights ignored, vehicles speeding through junctions, footpaths occupied by shops, and pedestrians forced onto traffic lanes. Nearby, a drain overflows despite strict sanitation rules, and a “No Parking” sign proudly hosts a line of parked cars. All this happens openly, without fear. Meanwhile, the laws meant to prevent such chaos sit quietly in files. This is the daily paradox of India; rules on paper, chaos on the ground.
India has no shortage of laws. Our Constitution, central and state legislation, departmental manuals, government orders, and regulatory bodies together create one of the most elaborate legal frameworks in the world. Almost every aspect of public life, traffic, sanitation, construction, food safety, environment, quality, public behaviour, consumer rights, and media conduct is covered by regulations. Yet everyday life tells a very different story. Food adulteration is common, prices fluctuate without explanation, public land is encroached upon, misinformation spreads freely, and quality promised on labels is rarely delivered. The issue is not the absence of rules, but the absence of respect for them.
The real gap lies between rule-making and rule-enforcement is unfathomable. India is excellent at drafting laws but very poor at implementing them. Many laws are outdated, ambiguous, or overlapping, leaving even enforcement agencies confused about applicability. Ordinary citizens rarely know the exact rules, while enforcement agencies struggle with manpower shortages, lack of training, outdated systems, and political interference. When rules are applied selectively sometimes to some people, sometimes not at all, they lose meaning. Honest citizens feel punished for compliance, while habitual violators face no real consequences. The result is predictable. When violations go unpunished, people stop taking rules seriously. Enforcement exists on paper, not on the street.
This failure of enforcement normalises everyday rule breaking. Garbage is thrown on roads because fines are rarely imposed. Plastic waste is pushed into drains, causing flooding during monsoons. Vehicles block roads, obstruct footpaths, go without needed documents, pollute surroundings and honk everywhere because “everyone does it.” Shops are extended onto roads. Construction debris is dumped in public spaces. Food is adulterated because inspections are infrequent and predictable. People plant saplings in the middle of roads, believing they are doing good, ignoring the long-term traffic hazards. When rule-breaking becomes routine, following rules begins to look foolish.
A common moral dilemma emerges: Why should I follow the rules when no one else does, and when those who break them benefit? This is the most dangerous stage for any society.
Daily life offers endless examples. Two-wheeler riders hang helmets on elbows instead of wearing them. Drivers take the wrong side to “save time.” Lane markings are treated as decoration. “No Parking” boards attract parking. Autos stop anywhere, buses bully smaller vehicles, and unauthorised speed breakers appear overnight. Footpaths become shops or storage areas, forcing pedestrians into traffic.
Beyond roads, the picture is equally disturbing. Milk is diluted, spices coloured artificially, vegetables polished with chemicals. Labels mislead, medicines spurious, quality checks are rare, and consumers have little faith in redressal systems. Anyone can print pamphlets or circulate “news” on social media without verification. Freedom exists, but responsibility does not. All this continues because there is no real fear of being caught.
Beyond daily inconvenience lie deeper governance failures. Public land, drains, water bodies, parks, and road margins is steadily encroached upon by private groups or local mafias. Temporary structures become permanent. Fake certificates flourish openly. Electricity theft is rampant. Court orders are ignored. Organised begging rackets operate in full public view. Neighbours sabotage each other’s water lines. Police investigations don’t move, demarcation of land does not happen, court cases take decades, while undertrials remain in jail for years and repeat offenders roam free. These realities quietly teach citizens that laws are merely suggestions.
The police, tasked with maintaining law and order, face enormous challenges and is overburdened. India has far fewer police personnel than required for its population. Many are diverted to VIP security, political rallies, protocol duties, guarding retired officials, traffic control, and endless paperwork. This leaves little manpower for basic policing and crime prevention. Many police stations lack modern equipment, transport, technology, training facilities and updated databases. Majority located near home have other implications. Political interference affects postings and investigations. While most policemen work sincerely under difficult conditions, occasional arrogance, outdated practices, or poor public behaviour damage its trust and image. Policing becomes reactive instead of preventive. Enforcement is visible either during drives or by the unmanned sign boards put on roads, not as a constant presence.
Weak enforcement corrodes society. Fraud becomes easy. Streets remain dirty. Small neighbourhood disputes escalate because early intervention does not happen. Adulterated food damages public health. Hoarding and price manipulation hurt the poor. Delayed justice emboldens violators who know punishment, if it comes, will take years. When people lose faith in institutions, they stop following rules themselves. Once rules lose respect, social order collapses.
Fixing this situation requires both systemic and cultural change. The most critical missing element is accountability. Without accountability, laws are meaningless. Officials, agencies, businesses, and citizens must be answerable for what they do or fail to do. Violations must invite prompt and visible financial, professional, or legal consequences. Accountability begins with clarity. Laws must be simplified and updated. Outdated and overlapping rules should be removed. Departments must clearly define responsibilities, timelines, and service standards, along with escalation mechanisms. If drains remain clogged, someone must answer. If encroachments persist, responsibility must be fixed. If food adulteration is detected, the inspecting officer must be questioned. If potholes are not repaired, garbage not lifted, manholes left open, or water supplied erratically, accountability must follow. Citizens should have simple reporting mechanisms and expect time-bound action. Silence and inaction by officials must no longer be acceptable.
Enforcement must be fair, consistent, and transparent. People must know that punishment is certain, not occasional. Whether it is a motorist, street vendor, builder, corporate house, or government officer, rules must apply equally. Selective enforcement in punishing some and ignoring others must end. Only then will public trust return.
Police reforms are essential. Forces need more personnel, better training, and modern tools. VIP duties must be rationalised to free manpower for community policing. Police stations require mobility, updated records, forensic support, and technology. Body cameras, digital challans, CCTV based fines, regular audits, and police-public interaction meetings can build trust. Honest officers must be rewarded; negligent ones penalised. That is real accountability.
Citizens too have responsibilities. Public spaces must be kept clean. Traffic rules must be followed. Technology can support enforcement apps for reporting violations, public dashboards for municipal work, tamper proof documents, and simple systems for reporting adulteration. Community participation can solve daily issues: monitored waste disposal, standardised speed breakers, protected drains, and local vigilance.
Consumer protection must be strengthened through regular checks, strict penalties, and transparent grievance redressal. Small businesses should receive guidance, not harassment. Media and online platforms must behave responsibly. Freedom of expression is vital, but misinformation cannot be ignored. Clear rules, fact checking, corrections, and accountability are necessary to protect public trust.
India’s problem is not the lack of laws but the lack of respect for them. Strong institutions alone cannot fix this. Citizens must understand that laws exist to help everyone live safely, fairly, and with dignity. Discipline is not punishment; it is collective strength. When rules are fair and enforcement firm and impartial, people follow them willingly.
A better India will not come from creating more laws, committees, or slogans. It will come from better implementation, real accountability by one and all, and shared responsibility. The real question is not whether India needs more laws, but whether we are ready to respect, enforce, and live by the ones we already have.
(The writer is a motivational speaker and a change-maker)
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