Dr Naveen Malik1,*, Dr Raj Singh2, Dr Vijay Kumar3 and Dr. Deep Shikha4
Affilaition: 1Assistant Professor in Sociology, Government PG College, Barwala, Panchkula, Haryana, India, 2Assistant Professor in Physical Education, Government PG College, Barwala, Panchkula, Haryana, India, 3Assistant Professor in Mathematics, Government PG College, Barwala, Panchkula, Haryana, India and 4Assistant Professor of Law, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Law College, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
Email of corresponding author: naveenmalik9696@gmail.com
Abstract: This study examines the relationship between religion, legal consciousness, and deviance among the Bhopa community of Rajasthan, using primary data collected in February and March 2026 from 100 Bhopa respondents across the Nagaur, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer districts. The study is anchored in three sociological perspectives: Bourdieu’s theory of habitus and symbolic capital, legal consciousness theory, and deviance theory. The empirical findings indicate a strongly religion-centred social order: 91% of respondents describe religion as very important, 91% report performing ritual activities regularly, and all respondents identify Pabuji Guru as the central influence over religious life. At the same time, legal incorporation remains weak. Seventy-five per cent of respondents report not being aware of the legal system, 77% express no trust in it, and all respondents disagree that the legal system protects them. Informal mechanisms continue to dominate dispute handling and social regulation: 85% resolve disputes through the community, and 85% report that they warn rather than punish deviant behaviour. The data further show that 86% of respondents have experienced a conflict between faith and law, while 72% prioritise religion when such a conflict arises. This research paper posits that the ‘Bhopa case’ exemplifies a dual legal consciousness prevalent among marginalised communities, characterised by a scepticism toward formal legal frameworks perceived as distant and untrustworthy. Despite this scepticism, there exists an enduring aspiration for legal reform and state intervention. This analysis enhances the socio-legal discourse surrounding legal pluralism, the dynamics of non-state authority, and the mechanisms of informal governance within the Indian context.
Keywords: Legal Consciousness; Legal Pluralism; Religion and Law; Deviance; Bhopa Community; Rajasthan.