A Scavenger Hunt game to Learn about Everyday Laws

By TP Janani & Rachit Sharma

Introduction

In November 2024, Justice Adda organised an innovative scavenger hunt at the JusticeMakers’ Mela in Bhopal. This activity was designed to engage participants with fundamental concepts of the law. By adopting gamification for building legal awareness, this activity was aimed to experientially illustrate the existence of law and its working in our everyday civic spaces, the importance and benefits of understanding and actioning such laws, etc. The blog discusses the  structure of the scavenger hunt', the clue designs based on the historical and regulatory context of the venue, the broader educational objectives of the clues and our “Law and Everyday Life” toolkit for building legal awareness.

Background

The game was conceptualised as an activity-based learning experience of our "Law and Everyday Life" workbook, designed to demystify legal language and highlight the intersections of law with our everyday life. 

We encounter the law everyday in the various spaces we occupy- at the traffic signal, on product packaging, during elections.Legal literacy is an essential part of civic empowerment. However, traditional legal awareness efforts frequently fail to engage people in a relatable and dynamic way with  participatory learning . Recognising this gap, the toolkit was created to assist citizens in meaningfully engaging with the law in their daily lives. It hopes to guide a citizen who may (for the first time) enter a courtroom, speak to a police officer or lawyer, draft an RTI enquiry or try to understand the Constitution better.

The toolkit targets individuals, particularly those outside the formal education system and civil society organizations (CSOs), NGOs, legal aid societies, etc., who work with such individuals. It includes:

• An interactive workbook

• Workshop templates with several activities for experiential learning. 

• Infographics

  
  

These modular elements encourage design thinking and storytelling, making the law accessible and relatable for a young and diverse audience.

Designing the Scavenger Hunt 

The scavenger hunt was conceptualized to utilize the venue of the JusticeMakers Mela at Kushabhau Thakre Hall (formerly Minto Hall, Bopal). The venue's rich historical context, as a former legislative assembly for Madhya Pradesh from 1956, provided a fertile ground for creating clues that intertwine legal principles with the physical environment.

Clue Development

Each clue was crafted to resonate with legal themes and the architectural or regulatory features of the venue:

1. Accessibility

Clue: Equality for all, Constitution does say, For those unique in their own way, Access and ease are everyone's right, Find the path that scales this height.

Answer:- Ramp 

This clue is based on Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees equality and ensures that everyone, regardless of ability, has the same rights and access to public spaces. The answer, a ramp, highlights the importance of accessibility by allowing people with disabilities to move freely and independently. It also emphasises the importance of inclusive spaces in which everyone has an equal opportunity to participate.

2. Surveillance and Protection

Clue: I see you, I watch you, I'm here to protect. Find me to proceed to the next clue

Answer:- CCTV Camera

The answer to this clue is the CCTV camera, which is used to  monitor  public spaces to help ensure safety and security. It reflects the role of surveillance in law enforcement,  the strategies adopted for maintaining public order, and the implications that such systems have for individual rights.

3. Heritage and Preservation

Clue: Don’t stick on the walls, that's not the way, Heritage buildings are protected under law, come what may. Laws preserve the past, so history stays bright, Perhaps some historical figure holds the insight

Answer:- The figure of Kushabhau Thakre

The answer to this clue is the statue of Kushabhau Thakre, after whom the venue is named. This clue relates to laws dealing with conservation and preservation of heritage, which protect historic buildings and monuments from damage. It encourages participants to reflect on the legal responsibility of citizens in maintaining and respecting cultural heritage sites. 

4. Police and Law Enforcement 

Clue: When a crime or problem is at hand, I’m here to help, take a stand. For an FIR, you know where to go, To find the next clue, find my friends in blue uniform, they’ll help you know.

Answer:- Security Checkpoint

The answer to this clue is the Security checkpoint. Security, like police and law enforcement agencies, plays an important role in ensuring public safety and keeping order. Their role is to act as first responders, protecting citizens, addressing crimes, and providing critical support during emergencies. 

5. Fire Safety

Clue: Building laws require safety in place, A red sentinel stands, guarding your space. It’s ready to fight against the flames here to ensure safety is no game.

Answer:-  Fire Extinguisher

The answer to this clue is the fire extinguisher, highlighting building safety regulations that require fire protection measures in public and historic spaces. This clue reinforces the importance of legal mandates that ensure safety standards are met to protect both people and infrastructure.

6. Sanitation and Health Rights

Clue: Cleanliness is next to godliness, they say, To stay healthy and hygienic, this is the way. If in a public place, you're denied this right, You can approach the court and take the fight

Answer:- Washrooms

The answer to this clue is the washroom, which represents the fundamental right to sanitation, which is an extension of the right to health and dignity. Access to clean and functional public restrooms is a legal and public health necessity. If this right is denied, individuals can seek legal recourse to uphold their dignity and hygiene.(1)

7. Right to Life and Personal Liberty

Clue: Article that ensures your life and liberty, A right so precious, it’s part of your dignity. What’s the magic number that sets you free? Add the digits of that article, and find your clue near the same Exhibit No. where they’ll be. 

Answer: Exhibit No. 3 (i.e., 2+1, based on Article 21 of the Constitution) 

The clue leads to Exhibit No. 3, which depicts the sum of the digits in Article 21. Article 21 of India's Constitution guarantees the fundamental right to life and personal liberty. It ensures that every individual has the right to live with dignity, free from arbitrary deprivation of life or personal liberty, except according to the procedure established by law. 

8. Clue Leading to the Toolkit

Clue: Knowledge is power, and the law is an important guide. Find our books where these ideas reside.

Answer:- Law and Everyday Life workbook, placed in the Reading Corner at the Mela venue.

This final clue leads participants back to the "Law and Everyday Life" workbook, which aims to be an informational resource in promoting legal awareness. The workbook helps individuals understand and engage with the laws that shape their daily experiences, fostering active and informed citizenship.

Reflections

This scavenger hunt was an opportunity to make legal awareness more relatable and accessible. Participants actively experienced the presence and working of important everyday laws through an interactive game based on the venue, rather than simply reading about them. This method aimed to kindle their interest in exploring the application of legal principles in real-world situations. One of the key ideas behind this exercise was to connect law to everyday situations. Participants were able to see how laws apply in real-world settings by using venue-specific clues, reinforcing the idea that law is more than just textbooks and courtrooms; it is a part of everyday life. This approach aimed to ensure participants recognise their rights and responsibilities in the spaces they use every day.

The scavenger hunt was also intended to be inclusive, allowing people from all backgrounds, particularly those without formal legal education, to participate. The clues were written in both English and Hindi to facilitate participation by the majority of attendees at the venue.

The Justice Adda team collaborated with event organisers to organise this scavenger hunt, ensuring that the clues were not only informative but also engaging and easy to understand. This collaboration helped create a well-balanced activity that is both educational and enjoyable.

Footnotes:

(1) Article 21, 47 and 48A of the Indian Constitution; Section 7(2) of the Indian Sarais Act, 1867; Virender Gaur v. State of Haryana, Supreme Court of India, (1995)2 SCC 577

(Rachit and Janani are consultants with Justice Adda. Views expressed by the authors in this blog are their own and do not represent the views of Justice Adda.)