Rights of an unborn child - Law of Tort

Q. Tort against child in womb [2018 - 4 marks]


An unborn child, who is still in the mother’s womb, who suffered injury because of any third party, can sue the guilty for his injury, after his birth. The parents also have tortious liability towards their unborn child for taking proper care while the child is in the mothers womb.

Equality Before Law and Equal Protection of Law - Article 14 of Constitution of India

Q. Write down the distinction between 'Equality before law' and 'Equal protection of law'. [2021 - 10 marks]

Article 14 of the Constitution of India provides the fundamental rights of 'Equality before law' and 'Equal protection of law'. Both these rights are distinct in terms of their subjectivity.

Equality before law means that every citizen of of the country is equal in the eyes of law. The law shall not discriminate on the basis of rich and poor, privileged and underpriviledged or place birth, religion, caste and creed.

Equal Protection of Law on the other hand, works considering the Doctrine of Reasonable Classification, which means equal protection will be given to the people of similar social position. For example the protection given to the President of India is not available to any other citizen.

Fundamental Rights in Indian Constitution


QHow many Fundamental Rights are available there under Indian Constitution? Write down very briefly. [2021 - 10 marks]
The Constitution of India provides the following 6 fundamental rights:
1. Right to equality: Articles 14 to 18 of the constitution of India provides right to equality to every citizen of the country. 
(a) Article 14 - Equal protection of laws and Equality before law. 
(b) Article 15 - Right against discrimination on grounds of religion, caste, sex, place of birth or race. 
(c) Article 16 - Equal opportunity in terms of public employment. 
(d) Article 17 - Abolition of untouchability and prohibition of its practice. 
(e) Article 18 - Abolition of titles except military and academic.  
2. Right to freedom 
(a) Article 19 - Ensures protection of rights to freedom of: (i) speech and expression, (ii) assembly, (iii) association, (iv) movement, (v) residence, and (vi) profession
(b) Article 20 - Protection convicted offenders.
(c) Article 21 - Protection of life and personal liberty.
(d)Article 21A - Right to elementary education.
(e) Article 22 - Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.
3. Right against exploitation 
(a) Article 23 - Prohibition of trafficking and forced labour.
(b) Article 24 - Prohibition of employment of children in Companies and factories, etc.
4. Right to freedom to practice any religion 
(a) Article 25 - Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. 
(b) Article 26 - Freedom to manage religious affairs.
(c) Article 27 - Freedom from payment of taxes for promotion of any religion or religious affairs.
(d) Article 28 - Freedom from attending religious instruction or worship in certain educational institutions
5. Cultural and educational rights 
(a) Article 29 - Protection of language, script and culture of minorities.
(b) Article 30 - Rights of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.
6. Right to constitutional remedies
Article 32 - The Constitution of India provides 5 writs to ensure the right to constitutional remedies to every citizen (i) Habeas corpus, (ii) Mandamus, (iii) Prohibition, (iv) Certiorari, (v) Quo-warrento

International Customs as Source of Law

Q. Write a short note on International Custom as source of law.  [2015 - 4 marks]

International Customs are the established international practices that are generally followed by the constituent nations. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the apex law enforcing body of the United Nations has accepted international customs as source of international law. 

The Statute of the ICJ, vide Chapter II Article 38, has recognized the international customs and general practices of nations as one of the court's sources of customary international law. This is applicable in the cases where there is a disagreement between member countries.

Plebiscite or Referendum - Legal term

 

Q. Explain plebiscite in relation to Kashmir. [2015 - 4 marks]

Plebiscite

Plebiscite, also known as referendum, is a type of voting for or against laws. Plebiscite generally suggests a type of voting to support or oppose the constitution or the government.

Plebiscite in relation to Kashmir

Kashmir was given a special status by Article 370 of the Constitution of India. This special status was temporary and was to be withdrawn on attaining favorable political situation. As there were calls from various groups within the country to scrap Article 370, a Plebiscite front was formed to vote to decide the question whether Kashmir should remain with India to go to Pakistan or become an independent state. However, with the scrapping of Article 370, and introduction of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act in 2019, all these speculations have become impertinent.

International Law is a vanishing point in Jurisprudence

QInternational Law is a vanishing point in Jurisprudence. Comment. 
[This question is very much important for LLB and BA LLB examinations. It was asked in Public International Law in 2015 for 4 marks, 2017 & 2018 for 10 marks.
It was also asked in Jurisprudence I in 2019 for 10 marks]


International law is regarded as the vanishing point of jurisprudence. The main reasons for this are as given below:

1. The international laws are outcome of consensus amongst many nations. Because these are consensus, the powerful nations at their will can easily violate them without getting punished. Any law that can not be enforced is not a law and defeats the purpose of jurisprudence.

2. International law can not be strictly enforceable. There is no sovereign authority to enforce these laws.

3. International law is mostly a courtesy and is followed depending on the will of the countries. 

With rapid globalisation, things are changing these days. With the formation of UNO and its various other organs, the international laws are becoming more binding on the states. The International Court of Justice sitting at the apex ensures that international laws are strictly followed all over the world. 

Asylum and Extraterritorial Asylum - Public Internal Law

QWhat do you understand by Asylum? Is Asylum a right of a person? [2015 - 4 marks]
Q. Define Asylum. What is extraterritorial asylum? [2017 - 4 marks, 2018 - 10 marks]

Asylum
In international law, asylum is the protection granted by a state, to a foreign citizen against his own state. Asylum is not a legal right. It solely depends on the state whether to provide asylum to someone or not.

For example, Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasrin were given asylum in England to protect them from the fatwa issued against them in their own respective states.

Extraterritorial asylum
Extraterritorial asylum refers to asylum granted in embassies, legations, consulates, warships, and merchant vessels in foreign territory and is thus granted within the territory of the state from which protection is sought.

Duguit's Social Solidarity Theory | Jurisprudence

 Q. Critically examine the views of Duguit regarding 'Social Solidarity'. [2018 - 20 marks]

Social Solidarity

French Jurist Leon Duguit (1859-1928) was a leading exponent of social school of jurisprudence. He propounded the theory of 'Social Solidarity'. The basis of the theory of Social Solidarity is interdependence of individuals in the society.

A society is built up of individuals who are interdependent on other individuals. Helping each other is the fundamental principle of humanity. No member in a human society can remain alone without depending on others. Duguit envisaged the social solidarity as the spirit of oneness, the strength, cohesiveness, mutual consciousness and existential quality of the society.

According to Duguit, law should be made such that it promotes social solidarity. Unless it promotes the spirit of cooperation in the society, it is a bad law. He vouched that everyone in society should have rights and duties to promote social solidarity.

Main features of Social Solidarity Theory

1. Denial of supremacy of state supremacy: Druguit opposed state sovereignty vehemently. According to him, the state is an organisaiton of human and it is no different than any other human organisation. The state is also bound by the duty to server the purpose of Social solidarity.

2. Private and Public law are not distinct: Duguit believed that there should be no difference between private and public law. He vouched for a common law for all the people of the society.

3. Denial of Private rights: Duguit opined that the private rights should not exist at all. The private rights are against the social solidarity. If private rights are given to a section of the population, the cohesiveness is bound to loosen. According to him, there is only one right for all and that is to do their duties.

Criticism of Social Solidarity theory

Duguits Social Solidarity theory is criticized on the following grounds:

1. Social Solidarity is a natural law: Though Duguit tries to distinguish it from all the natural school of thought, but the very idea of Social Solidarity is based on Natural Principles of law.

2. Social Solidarity is a vague term: There are ambiguity in the expression 'Social Solidarity' and it can not be distinguished from metaphysics which is  opposed by Duguit.

3. Denial of distinction between private and public rights leads to denial of individual rights in few sections of the society in different part of the world.

4. The social solidarity theory of Duguit overlooked the growing state. As a result, with the growth of the state, relevancy and ability to implement the theory started diminishing.

5. Duguit propounded that the Social Solidarity is a mandatory feature of the law for the society. The critics feel that it should have been a 'good to have' feature and not mandatory.


Kelson's Pure Theory of Law: Main points, Features and Criticisms | Jurisprudence

 QExplain fully Kelson's Pure Theory of Law. Is it correct to say that this theory has left dry bones of law deprived of flesh and blood which give them life? [2018 - 20 marks]

Kelson’s Pure Theory of Law 

Explained below are the main points of Kelson's Pure Theory of Law:

1. Law is a science: According to Kelson, law is a normative science. But law norms may be distinguished from Science norms. Science norms are based on cause and effect, such as law of gravitation. The law norms on the other hand, does not attempt to describe what actually occurs, but only prescribes certain rules. It says if one breaks the law then he ought to be punished.  Kelson says, “Law is a de-psychologized command, a command which does not imply a will in  psychological sense of the term.”

2. Hierarchy of Normative Relations: The science of law to Kelson is the knowledge of hierarchy or normative relations. He builds on Kant’s theory of knowledge and extends this theoretical knowledge of law also.

3. Separation of Law from other social sciences and Morals: Kelson limits the scope of jurisprudence by excluding its relations with social science. He separates law from politics, sociology, meta-physics and all other extra-legal disciplines.

4. The Grundnorm: Kelson’s Pure theory of law is based on the pyramidal structure of the hierarchy of norms which derive their validity from the basic norm which he termed as ‘Grundnorm.’ The Grundnorm or basic norm determines the content and give s validity to other norms derived from it. Kelson has no answer to the question as to where from the Grundnorm or basic norm derive its validity.

5. Pyramid of norms: Kelson considers legal science as a pyramid of norms with Grundnorm at the top. The subordinate norms are controlled by norms superior to them in hierarchical order. The Grundnorm is however, independent of any other norm being at the top.


Essential Features of Kelson’s Pure Theory of Law

1. The aim of a theory of law, like any science, it to reduce the chaos and convert multiplicity to unity.

2. Legal theory is science, not volition. It is Knowldge of what the law ‘is’ and not of the law ‘ought to be’.

3. The law is a normative science, not a natural science.

4. Legal theory as a theory of norms is not  concerned with the effectiveness of legal norms.

5. A theory of law is formal, a theory to a particular system of positive law is that of possible to actual law.


Postulates of Kelson’s Pure Theory of Law

1. Law and states cannot be differentiated: According to Kelson, there is no difference between law and state. He says that when all derives their power and validity ultimately from the Grundnorm, there can be no superior person as sovereign.

2. No distinction between public and private law: according to Kelson, there is no difference between public and private law. When all law derive its power from Grundnorm, distinctive characters can not be attributed to it.

3.  No difference between natural and Juristic persons: To Kelson, a legal personality is artificial and derives its validity from superior norms. Personality in law means an entity capable of bearing rights and duties.


4. No individual Rights: Kelson’s conception of law as a system of normative relations leads to the conclusion that there is no such thing as an individual right in law.

5. Supremacy of International Law: According to Kelson, international law is supreme. Kelson vouches that International law is  ‘Juridical Order’ and should be given its due diligence. 


Criticism of Kelson’s Pure Theory of law

The Pure theory of Kelson is criticized on the following grounds:

1. Grundnorm is vague and confusing: The critics of the Pure theory say that the Grundnorm, which is the very basis on which the theory is standing, is vague and confusing. Any theory whose  base is confusing cannot establish a concrete theory of law.

2. The purity norms of Kelson's Pure Theory is not seamlessly maintained. Everything in Kelson’s theory traces back to the Grundnorm, which becomes an issue with the law makers, judges and legislators in practical implementation front.

3. There is a very little practical significance of the theory propagated by Kelson. Though it is not widely accepted, according to the critics, the Pure theory lacks practical significance.

4. Natural Law is excluded: It is criticised that the Natural Law is excluded in Kelson's Pure theory. Kelson presents a very scientific analysis of legal order, therefore, he could not take the natural law into consideration. 

5. Kelson in his Pure Theory of Law, gives utmost importance to the International law, which according to him should be given highest priority. This leads to a number of inconsistencies with the implementation of the Grundnorms. According to critics, the International law does not fit into the Pure theory at all and should be taken out from this theory.



Grundnorm - short note : Jurisprudence

Q. Short note on Grundnorm [2019, 2021 - 4 marks]

Grundnorm is a German term which means basic norm or fundamental norm. The term was coined by famous jurist and legal philosopher Hans Kelsen. The theory of grundnorm is based on a need to find a point of origin for all law, on which basic law and the constitution can gain their legitimacy.

Note: Grundnorm is also referred as Ground Norm or groundnorm in question papers.

Jeremy Bentham - a Short Note : Jurisprudence

Jeremy Bentham was an English philosopher, jurist, and social reformer of the eighteenth century. He is regarded as the founder of modern utilitarianism. Bentham propagated his philosophy as the principle that "it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong."



Moral Law - Jurisprudence

Moral laws are a set of rules to  be followed out of personal conscious. The consciousness may arise out of ones religious following or from education or any other such sources. But these laws are not necessarily be legislated by the legislature. These are general guidelines to be followed to lead a normal and ethical life.

Any immoral acts whether legal or illegal should be avoided. This is moral law.

Jurisprudence and Legislation - Short notes

Q. Short notes on Jurisprudence and Legislation. [2021 - 4 marks]

Jurisprudence is the theoretical study of the processes of law. As a branch of a study it covers the principles of natural law, civil law, criminal law and all other laws of the nation.

Legislation is the law made by the legislature of a nation for that nation. It is the constitution and promulgation of set of legal rules by an authority which has the power to do so.

Objective of Advocates Act 1961 - LLB Solved Question

Q. What is the objective of passing the Advocates Act, 1961? [2016 - 4 marks]

Objectives of passing the advocates Act 1961

The Advocates Act, 1961 came into being after the Law Commission endorsed the recommendations of All India Bar Committee which is applicable to the whole of India. The Act aims at amending and consolidating the laws relating to legal practitioners and to provide for the establishment of State Bar Councils and an All India Bar Council.

Examination-in-Chief - LLB Solved Question

Q. What do you mean by Examination-in-Chief? [2016 - 2 marks - Professional Ethics]

Examination-in-Chief
As per Section 137 of the Indian Evidence Act, Examination in chief is the first examination of witnesses after the oath. The witness is called by a party for examining him for the purpose of verifying all the material facts within his knowledge which tend to prove the party’s case. It is also known as Direct Examination.