What is the difference between rules and regulations?

Rules and regulations are essentially mechanisms of social control employed at every level of the society to govern the actions and behaviour of public. Rules and regulations are set in place to achieve the same goal, which is to bring about an order and harmony in the society and to further the mandate of the state. Both rules and regulations are formally recognised under the Indian constitution as part of the legal framework of our nation. Rules and regulations can be understood as smaller subclasses of law which play an active part in aiding the proper and complete enforcement of law, since rules and regulations are often set in place complementing the law of the land. However, the legal connotations and ramifications of rules vis-à-vis regulations is very different. They each are unique in their own way and it is important to understand the difference between the two concepts to appreciate their role in our legal framework.
 

What are Rules?

Rules are guiding instructions which are put in place to elaborate how certain things are to be done along with what to do and not do, for the benefit of the people. The primary purpose served by rules is to bring about harmony to achieve collective welfare of sections of the society. Unlike law of the land which is enforced by the state, rules are not associated with the same sense of enforceability. Therefore, non-compliance of rules by a member of society does not lead to the imposition of any significant liabilities by the state. Further rules are employed at every level of the society from an organisational to the household level. Thus, like an office formulates rules for ensuring proper functioning of its employees, the head of a family also makes rules for the welfare of the members of his/her household.
 

What are Regulations?

Regulations are essentially instructions which have the authorisation of law. Regulations can be understood as a form of rules which are backed by law and have their footing in a statute. Regulations are enacted on the basis of laws formulated by the state through the mechanism of the legislature. Therefore, the observance of regulations is mandated by law and non-compliance entails liability being imposed by the state. Regulations are only enacted by the state and not by any private individual of the society and therefore are the result of both houses of the parliament passing a statute which enables the framing of regulations thereunder.
 

Difference between Rules and Regulations

The following are the points of difference between rules and regulations:

1.    Rules can be understood as general instructions explaining what to do and what not to do for the public. Regulations on the other hand are instructions which have the force of law and enacted for the regulating the actions of the public at large.
2.    Rules are general instructions made by either individuals or organisations at every level of society and not by the state and therefore do not command strict observance. Regulations on the other hand are backed by law and therefore command strict observance by member of the public and non-compliance of regulations entails penal actions.
3.    Rules form a subset of regulations whereas regulations come under the umbrella of a statue enacted by the legislature of the state.
4.    Rules are unique in the sense that the can be formulated by any individual or organisation at every level of the society such as the rules framed by a housing society or a trader’s association. Regulations on the other hand carrying the force of law can only be made by the state.