Justice

Justice is the upholding of principles that are fair and equitable. In the context of a modern society, justice involves ensuring and safeguarding the fundamental rights and entitlements of all individuals.

Justice can be categorized into various types:

1. Social Justice:

   Social justice pertains to establishing a just and equitable relationship between an individual and society. It focuses on the equitable distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a given society. Its objective is to address socio-economic disparities through the rule of law. According to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, social justice is a means to create an ideal society devoid of caste-based discrimination, founded on the principles of social justice, which include liberty, equality, and fraternity. An example of social justice is the affirmative action policy, such as the reservation system in India.

2. Political Justice:

   Political justice involves the use of the legal system to ensure equitable power-sharing within the political landscape. For instance, measures like universal adult suffrage and reservation policies are designed to promote political justice.

3. Economic Justice:

   Economic justice is a concept that strives to provide equal economic opportunities for all individuals, prevent the accumulation of wealth among a few, and establish the groundwork for a life of dignity and opportunity. It primarily deals with the economic policies of the state. Examples of economic justice measures include equal wages for all, a progressive tax system, and the equitable distribution of wealth through various welfare programs.

4. Distributive Justice:

   Distributive justice revolves around the fair allocation of goods, responsibilities, and privileges based on the merits of individuals and the collective welfare of society. It necessitates that resources available to the distributor be distributed according to relevant criteria.

5. Procedural Justice:

   Procedural justice places emphasis on fair and unbiased processes rather than solely focusing on the outcomes. It is concerned with ensuring that information is gathered or decisions are made in a just and impartial manner. For instance, a person accused of a crime should undergo a fair and unbiased investigation rather than being subjected to torture.

6. Substantive Justice:

   Substantive justice is primarily concerned with fair outcomes in addition to adhering to a fair procedure. It means safeguarding rights that may not be explicitly covered by existing laws.

7. Restorative Justice:

   Restorative justice is an approach that aims to repair harm caused by allowing the harmed individuals and those responsible for the harm to communicate and address their needs following a criminal incident.

Justice encompasses the principles of fairness, equity, and the protection of fundamental rights and entitlements, with various types of justice addressing different aspects of societal well-being.