Smt. Ligi, teacher of Legal Language
and Legal Writing (OP-01) came to the class in the first hour and taught the following.
1.
Case
Law : State Of Maharashtra v. Mayer Hans George 1964
The legal
question was in respect of Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973. The respondent, a German smuggler, left Zurich
by plane on 27th November 1962 with 34 kilos of gold concealed on his person to be delivered in Manila. The plane arrived in Bombay on the
28th but the respondent did not come out of the plane. The Customs Authorities examined the manifest
of the aircraft to see if any gold was
consigned by any passenger, and
not finding any entry they entered the plane, searched the respondent, recovered
the gold and charged him with an offence
under
ss. 8(1) and 23(1-A) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (7 of
1947) read with a notification dated 8th
November 1962 of the Reserve Bank of India
which was published in the Gazette of India on 24th November. The respondent
was convicted by the Magistrate, but acquitted by the High Court on
appeal. In the appeal by the State to
the Supreme Court, the respondent sought to support the judgment of the High Court by contending that :
(i)
Mens rea was an essential
ingredient of the offence charged and as
it was not disputed by the prosecution
that the respondent was not aware of the
notification of the Reserve Bank,
he could not be found guilty,
(ii)
the notification being
merely subordinate or delegated
legislation could be deemed to be in
force only when it was brought to the notice of
persons! affected by it
and
(iii)
the
second proviso in the notification requiring disclosure in the manifest was not applicable to gold carried on the
person of a passenger.
A
two member bench of the Supreme Court held that
(i) On the language of s. 8(1) read with s. 24(1) of the Act,
which throws on the accused the burden of proving that he had the requisite
permission to bring gold into India, there was no scope for the invocation of the rule that
besides the mere act of voluntarily
bringing gold into India any further mental condition or mens rea is
postulated as necessary to constitute an offence referred to in s. 23(1-A).
(ii) The
notification was "published" and made known in India by publication in the Gazette and the
ignorance of it by the respondent who is a
foreigner was wholly irrelevant
and made no difference to his liability. [163B-D]. In the absence of any
statutory requirement the rule is that subordinate or delegated legislation
should be published in the usual form, that is, by publication within
the country by such
media as are generally adopted to
notify to all persons concerned
and publication in the Official Gazette is the
ordinary method of bringing a notification or rule
to the notice of persons concerned.
(iii)
The term "cargo" in the notification is used in contradistinction to
personal luggage" in the law relating to the carriage of goods. The latter has been defined as whatever a
passenger takes with him for his personal use or convenience either
with reference to his
immediate necessities or for his personal needs at the end of the journey. Gold of the quantity and in the form and
manner in which it was carried by the respondent would certainly not be
"personal luggage."
It is the
settled rule of the Supreme Court that it would not interfere with the sentence
passed by the courts below unless there is any illegality in it or the same
involves any question of principle. A sentence of one year's imprisonment was passed
by the Chief Presidency Magistrate. When the decision of the Supreme Court was
pronounced, the respondent had suffered the imprisonment that had been
inflicted on him by the order of the Presidency Magistrate. In these
circumstances, SC directed that though the appeal was allowed, the sentence
would be reduced to the period already undergone.
2.
The
two main maxims applied here are 1. Ignorance of law is no excuse and 2. Mens
rea is not applicable in statutory offences.
3.
If
the penalty is not great, and if the damage of the public is very great, mes
rea has no application.
4.
Where
it is Difficult to obtain adequate evidence of mens rea it is not applicable.
The assumption here is that the person has mens rea.
5.
Considering
the seriousness of the offense, mens rea is excluded in the following offences.
The person charged with the offence cannot bring the defence of not having mens
rea.
1.
Waging
war against the State
2.
Sedetion
= രാജ്യദ്രോഹം or defamation against the State.
3.
Kidnapping
4.
If
the act itself creates a presumption that it is done with the intention of
causing results. Example : Making a machine to print counterfeit currency notes
or to a mint to make counterfeit coins.
5.
Instances
of strict liability and vicarious liability.
6. Section 124A of IPC defines sedition as follows.
124A. Sedition
Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible
representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or
contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government
established by law in India, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to
which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years,
to which fine may be added, or with fine.
Explanation 1.
— The expression “disaffection” includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity.
Explanation 2.
— Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures of the Government with a
view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting
to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under
this section.
Explanation 3.
— Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other action of
the Government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or
disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.
7.
In
criminal law vicarious liability has no application except in a few exceptions.
8.
Damnum
sine injuria is not actionable as in Gloucester Grammar School Case.
9.
Tortious
liability arises out of a breach of duty primarily fixed by law. When that duty
is violated, the plaintiff can sue the defendant for compensation. That is, tortuous
liability arises when there is a violation of the right to the plaintiff. The
fact that the plaintiff suffered damage or not is not decisive.
10.
Though
there is damage to the plaintiff and if there is no breach of duty by the
defendant, the plaintiff has no remedy at all. On the other hand, if a right is
invaded, though no actual damage is caused, there is right of action.
11.
The
above principles are expressed in the legal maxims Damnum sine injuria and
Injuria sine Damnum.
12.
CASE
LAW : Ashby v. White. In this case when the right to vote has been
violated, a nominal amount was awarded as compensation. This case is also known as Aylesbury
election case.
13.
CASE
Law : Bhim Singh v. State of Jammu and Kashmir. In this case Mr. Bhim
Singh, an M.L.A. was prevented from attending assembly session. Compensation
was awarded to him for violating his right to attend the assembly session.
The first hour ended there and Smt.
Praseeda, teacher of Law of Crimes (IPC)
(CP-05) came in the
second hour and taught the following among others.
1.
Smt.
Praseeda opined that the topic that she was dealing in CPC may be completed
first, and then only need we start learning Law of Crimes.
2.
She
reminded us that all Interlocutory Applications have two parts namely 1.
Affidavit and 2. Application. As we have already considered Affidavit, let us
consider Petition of IAs.
3.
Petition
has a Cause Title which is similar to that of an Affidavit. The title shall be
PETITION
FILED UNDER ORDER…………. RULE …………….. SECTION …………. OF CPC
4.
Then
the petition runs as, “For the reasons stated in the accompanying affidavit, it
is most humbly prayed before this honourable court to grant a temporary
injunction in favour of the plaintiff till the disposal of the suit.”
5.
In
Commission applications the petition shall be, “It is highly necessary to
appoint an advocate commissioner and report the following matters.
1.
Lie
and lay of the property.
2.
…………………………….etc.”
6.
A
party in a suit can file as many Interim Applications as he deems necessary.
7.
Petition
for postponement of hearing can be made when the party is laid up, bed ridden,
suffering from chicken pox etc.
8.
Similarly
a petition for advance hearing may also be prayed for.
9.
Following
the legal maxim Audi Alteram Partem, it is the duty of the petitioner to give a
copy of the petition to the respondent. Three days notice is normally necessary
for advance hearing.
10.
The
reply of a respondent of the Interim Application is called “Counter.”
11.
Deponent
is the person who makes and signs an application.
Meanwhile a
notice was read in the class informing the students that a meeting of the Chair
for Business Laws (CBL) shall be convened on 23.11.2015 at 10.30 am. All the
existing members of the CBL and all those who want to be member in it may
attend the same.
12.
An
advocate may file an interim application in cases of necessity except in cases
where Civil Rules of Practice provides for the signature of the party as a
must.
13.
Court
may issue an ex-parte injunction order in cases of urgency.
14.
Caveat
is an order of a person directing the court to the effect that nothing shall be
done with him until he is served with a notice.
15.
The
name and address of the person against whom the caveat is filed should be shown
in the caveat. Caveat shall have effect for a limitation period of 90 days.
16.
It
is not mandatory for the person who applies for the caveat to serve copies of
the caveat to the other party.
17.
Notice,
reply to notice, filing of plaint, Summons etc are the stages of a civil suit.
18.
Summons
may be served
1.
To
the party personally
2.
Through
an adult member of the family
3.
Through
an agent of the party
4.
By
registered post with acknowledgment due. Courier service is not usually
resorted to.
5.
Affixing
at a conspicuous place at the natural dwelling place of the party.
6.
Through
newspaper publication. It is also called substitute service. In this case, a
affidavit with a copy of the published advertisement should be filed before the
court.
The
second period ended there and Smt. Premsy, teacher of Constitutional Law – 1
(CP-03) came in the third period and taught the following among others. She
is our Class teacher too.
1.
Constitution is the living law and basic law of
the land. It is the basic principle upon which Indian Polity is built.
2.
India is a Federal State having quasi federal nature.
3.
State as per our constitution includes The Union
of India, The States of India and the local bodies such as Panchayats,
Municipalities, Townships, Corporations etc.
4.
Our constitution deals with rights, duties,
citizenship, functions of Parliament and legislative assemblies, Duties of
President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India etc, Passing of
bills, amendment of constitution, powers of higher judiciary, relationships between
Union and the States, Special Provisions for Jammu Kashmir etc, are some
subject matter dealt with in Indian Constitution.
5.
Indian Constitution is the lengthiest
constitution of the world.
6.
It was passed on 26th November 1949
and came into existence on 26th January 1950.
7.
In terms of Jurisprudence, Indian Constitution
is an admixture of natural laws and positive laws.
8.
Natural Justice is the basic principle of the
Constitution of India.
9.
Article 13 of the Indian Constitution defines
law as,
“Laws
inconsistent with or in derogation of the fundamental rights
(1)
All laws in force in the territory of India immediately before the commencement
of this Constitution, in so far as they are inconsistent with the provisions of
this Part, shall, to the extent of such inconsistency, be void
(2)
The State shall not make any law which takes away or abridges the rights
conferred by this Part and any law made in contravention of this clause shall,
to the extent of the contravention, be void
(3) In
this article, unless the context otherwise requires law includes any Ordinance,
order, bye-law, rule, regulation, notification, custom or usages having in the
territory of India the force of law; laws in force includes laws passed or made
by Legislature or other competent authority in the territory of India before
the commencement of this Constitution and not previously repealed,
notwithstanding that any such law or any part thereof may not be then in
operation either at all or in particular areas
(4)
Nothing in this article shall apply to any amendment of this Constitution made
under Article 368.
10.
The Constitution of India is composed of its
Preamble, 448 Articles, 25 Parts, 12 Schedules and 5 appendices and 98 active
amendments out of 120.
11.
The seventh schedule of the Constitution
contains the Union List, State List and Concurrent List.
12.
The eighth schedule deals with official
languages.
13.
Legal Rights are the interests of the people
protected by law. Such significant rights which the Constitution protects are
called fundamental rights.
14.
Law has a history of development. Originally
there were no laws at all. The ancient laws did not have clarity. For clarity
laws began to be written down. Philosophical thinkers did not support written
down laws. In later period positive law insisted that the laws should be
written down and such thoughts gained predominance. However deviation from the
written laws were also necessary to bring justice and fairness in a changing
society.
15.
Judicial review is the interpretation of the
existing rights provided in the constitution and rights cannot be invented or
created.
16.
Supreme Court has the power to entertain writs
only in cases of breach of fundamental rights. But in writs before the High
Courts both the violation of fundamental and statutory rights can be
challenged.
17.
The Syllabus of Constitutional Law – 1
(CP-03) is given below.
Unit
I
Constitution
of India – Historical Perspective – constitutional development – Political
developments – Making of the Constitution – Constitutional Assembly Debates – Constitutional
Law: Meaning and Constitutionalism – Various
models of Constitution: Written, Unwritten, Unitary, Federal, flexible – Parliamentary vs. Presidential – Preamble:
Sovereign, Socialist, Secular and Democratic Republic – 42nd Amendment –
Basic Structure
theory – Citizenship – Who is a citizen of India – Rights
under Migration due to Partition –
Acquisition of
Citizenship – Citizenship Rules – jus soli and jus
sanguinis – Termination of Citizenship – Related Case Laws
Unit
II
State
and Fundamental Rights – Concept of State – Meaning of Law under Article 13 – Principle
of Equality – Articles 14, 15,16 and Article 17 – Special Reference to the Equal Rights and Equality before Law
under Article 14 – Rules for Classification – Protective Discrimination under Article 15 – Gender Justice –
Article 16 and
Reservation Criteria – Article 17 and untouchability Abolition
Strategy - relevant case laws.
Unit
III
Fundamental
Freedoms and Social Control –
Right to Know – Personal Liberty – Rights
of accused persons and judicial attitude – Double
Jeopardy – Right against Self incrimination – Article 21 and Judicial contributions with special reference
to A.K.
Gopalan v. State of Kerala 1951, Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, Sunil Batra’s case – Procedure
established by Law – Due Process – Post Maneka Gandhi decisions – Fair
Procedure, Handcuffing, Legal Aid, Natural Justice, Duty to Hear, Right to
Health, Right to Food, Right to Environment, Preventive Detention, Right
against Torture, Right to Die, Right to Privacy etc – Important Case Laws Right to Education – Free and Compulsory Education – Freedom
of Education Act – Relevant Case Laws – Right against Exploitation – Child
Labour – Prohibition of Bonded Labour,
Human Trafficking, Beggar etc –
Case Laws – Secularism and Minority Rights – Concept
of Religion under Indian Constitution – Minority
Rights – Right to Educational Institution – Controversy on Conversion of Religion – Relevant Case Laws
Unit
IV
Judicial
Review and Constitutional Remedies – Article
32, 226 and Article 227 – Nature of Writs – Classification –
Article 32 as
Fundamental Right – Laches or delay in instituting
Writs – Limitation – Public Interest Litigation – Judicial
Activism and Judicial Restraint Directive Principles of State Policy – Directive Principles and Fundamental Rights a Comparative Approach
– Rights under Articles 31A, 31B and
31C – Judicial Response and Relevant
Case Laws – Principles – Social and Economic Justice – Equal
Pay for Equal Works, Free Legal Aid – Uniform
Civil Code – Promotion of International Peace
and Security – Local Self Government as Directive
Policy – Constitutional Amendments and
Constitutional Position of Three Tier system of Governance Fundamental Duties
Unit
V
Relations
between the Union and States –
Extent of Laws made
by Parliament and State Legislatures, Subject Matter – Power of the Parliament to Legislate on Matters under the
State List – Residuary Power of Legislation – Effect of Inconsistency between State Law and Union Law – Doctrine of Colourable Legislation, Pith and Substance and
Doctrine of Occupied Field –
Administrative
relation – Duties and Powers of Union and
State – Control of Union over State – Disputes relating to Water – Financial
Relations – Finance Commission
Suggested
Readings:
Shukla.
V.N - Constitution of India
J.N
Pandey - Constitution of India
Austin
Granville - The Indian Constitution- Cornerstone of a Nation
Durga
Das Basu - Constitutional Law of India
M.P.
Jain -Indian Constitutional Law
H.M.
Seervai - Constitutional Law of India
Subhash
Kashyap - Indian Constitution
Constitutional Assembly Debates
18.
SC or HC as the case may be can entertain a writ
only after satisfying itself that the petitioner has locus standi and the court
has jurisdiction to try and hear the writ. Writ can be admitted only if the
State is a party in the writ.
19.
Smt. Premsy informed that as part of internal
assessment, a team of two students, one pro and one against shall discuss or
make a critical analysis of selected case laws.
20.
It was also informed the first semester shall be
from November to March. During May and June comes the summer vacation. Next
semesters come in June- October, November- March and onwards. Hence our course
will be over only in 2018 October. Examination will be held after each semester.
But even during examinations, regular classes shall be conducted to ensure
minimum number of classes.
The third hour ended and Smt. Smitha, teacher of Family Law
(CP-04) came in the fourth hour.
A notice was first served to inform the students that a
workshop is being held at 10am to 4 pm. on 21.11.2015 at Thrissur Cultural
Centre, Sakthan Thampuran Nagar, Thrissur on the topics “Significance of Right
to Information Act, Terror related offences, and Evaluation of contemporary
offences.”
1.
Laws regulating human relations in a family are
called family laws in general.
2.
The syllabus of Family Laws -1 is given below.
Unit-1
Marriage
and Kinship: Evolution and importance of Marriage and family – Role of Religion, Impact of customs on marriage and Family – Definition of Hindu, Muslim, Christian – Sources of Hindu Law, Muslim Law and Christian Law
Unit-II
Concept
of marriage - Essential conditions of a valid Hindu Marriage under Hindu
Marriage Act- Distinction between Valid, Void and Voidable marriages – Legal consequences of a Valid Marriage – Essential requirements of a valid Muslim marriage – Option of puberty, Legal effects of a Minor’s marriage –
Essential conditions
of a valid Christian marriage –
Kinds of marriages under
Hindu and Muslim systems –
dowry and dower as
applicable to Hindus, Muslims and Christians
Unit
III
Matrimonial
remedies: Annulment, Restitution of Conjugal Rights, Judicial Separation and Divorce-
Theories of Divorce: Fault/Guilt Theory, Consent Theory, Irretrievable
breakdown of marriage – Conditions for grant of
matrimonial remedies under Hindu marriage Act and Indian Divorce Act – matrimonial remedies for Muslims (Talaq, Ila, Zihar, Tafweez,
Khula, Mubaarak) – Talaq: different kinds of Talaq,
Delegated talaq – Divorce under Shariat Act – Judicial and Extrajudicial methods of Divorce – Significance of Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act – Divorce by Mutual consent – Matrimonial
relief under Special Marriage Act
Unit
IV
Child and Family: Legitimacy, Adoption, Custody and
Maintenance of Child – Guardianship of the Child – Child Marriage and legal provisions prohibiting child marriage
Unit-V
Recent
developments – Family Court: Composition, Powers
and functions – dowry and Dowry Prohibition Act – Need for Uniform Civil Code – Article
44 of the Constitution of India –
Compulsory
registration of marriage
Suggested
Readings:
Mulla
- Principles of Hindu Law
Paras
Diwan - Hindu Law
Mulla
- Mohammedan law
Tahir
Mohamed - Muslim law in India
Sebastian
Champappally - Christian law
E.D.
Devadasan - Handbook of Christian law
AAA Fyzee - Outlines of Mohammedan
Law
3.
There is no uniform civil code existent in
India.
4.
Hindu Family Law includes the Hindu Legislations
such as Hindu Marriage Act, Hindu Succession Act, Hindu Adoption and
Maintenance Act etc.
5.
Kuran, Hadis, etc are sources of Muslim Family
Law.
6.
Christian Family laws generally follow the
Indian secular legislations such as Special Marriage Act, Indian Succession
Act, Indian Divorce Act, etc.
7.
Sources of Hindu Family Law include both
codified and uncodified laws.
8.
Codified laws are legal legislations.
9.
Uncodified Laws are basically from religious
texts such as srutis smrtis, digests etc.
10.
Two basic Hindu Laws are Yajnjavalkya Smrti and
Manu Smrti.
11.
There are two main schools of Hindu Law namely
the Dayabhaga School prevalent in Bengal and the Mithakshara School prevalent
in rest of India.
12.
Digests are the commentaries on Smrtis.
13.
Another source of Hindu Law is custom. Custom is
a practice followed by the people from time immemorial continuously without any
interruption.
14.
Justice Equity and Good Conscious were the main
principles that formed the law in England where as the concept of Dharma was
the main principle in India. However if there is no statute governing an issue,
the issue used to be decided on the principles of Justice, Equity and Good
Conscience.
15.
Next source is precedence. Precedence is
following a principle in a previously adjudged case.
16.
Dharma came to be equated with the English
concept of Justice, Equity and Good Conscience in Hindu Law Legislations.
17.
Legislation itself is another source of Hindu
law.
The
fourth hour and the class of the day ended there.
No comments:
Post a Comment