principle of legality

The principle of legality is a legal doctrine that states that individuals cannot be punished for actions that were not clearly defined as illegal by law at the time they were committed. This means laws should be clear and public, so people know what is prohibited. It protects citizens from arbitrary prosecution and ensures that laws are applied consistently. Essentially, it upholds the idea that laws must be transparent, accessible, and apply equally to everyone, reflecting the basic notion of fairness in the justice system.