Hidayatullah National Law University, New Raipur

Jurisprudence II
B.A.LL.B. (Honours)
VI Semester
Course Teachers:
Mr. Azim B. Pathan
Jurisprudence is the Science of law. Law is said to be what Judges say it is. Thus,
the courts play very important role in governance of the country through interpretation of
statutes. With a view to attach more credence and acceptability the Judges say that they
do not legislate; they merely interpret statutes in accordance with the intention of the
legislature. They have also evolved certain self-regulatory rules of interpretation. In this
course students are to be apprised of such rules of interpretation. The students will have
to develop acquaintance with the rules of precedent and stare decisis along with legal
reasoning so as to appreciate coherence, certainty, plausibility and objectivity in the
administration of Justice. Even though, the Judges always say that they do not legislate or
create law, yet the seeds of creation of law are discernible in the exercise of their
interpretative power. By now, it is well accepted fact that Judges do play some creative
role and it gives birth to some controversy as to the extent of judicial creativity.
Therefore, the students are to be apprised of different theories of the adjudication and
Judicial Activism.
Legal concepts are the foundation stone of a legal system and particularly for civil
practice in law courts. This paper proposes to provide students some knowledge of legal
persons as right-duty bearing units; the concepts of right-duties along with their inter
relationship and concepts of possession and ownership as the incidence of the most
valuable right to property. Punishment ensures the smooth functioning of the ordered
society and therefore, the students will be given the requisite knowledge of various
theories of punishment.
Objectives:
1. To understand and realize the nature of judicial process and canons of statutory
interpretation.
2. To understand and appreciate the broad contours of judicial role in society
ranging from judicial self-restraint to the judicial creativity.
3. To study, analyze and appreciate the social role of Jural concepts like legal
persons, rights and duties, ownership and possession.
4. To study, analyze and appreciate the social role of different theories of
punishment in ensuring the smooth functioning of the society with some
rehabilitative points of view.
Methods of Teaching
1. Lecture Method
2. Case-Law Study
3. E-Teaching
4. Group Discussion
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Evaluation Criteria
1. Attendance
2. Project work
3. Snap Test
4. Mid Term
5. End Term
Total

05
25
10
20
40_
100

Module I
Canons of Statutory Construction
1. Distinction between interpretation and construction
2. Various Rules:
Literal Rule
Golden Rule
Mischief Rule
Books for References
1. Rupert Cross, Statutory Interpretations, 1976
2. R.W.M. Dias, Jurisprudence, Adity Books Private Ltd.
New Delhi, 1994, Chapter VIII pp.166-186
3. Landeis, A Note on Statutory Interpretation 43, Harv.L.Rev. 886 (1930)
4. Radin, Statutory Interpretation 43 Harv.L.Rev.863 (1930)
Module II
Judicial Process
1. Doctrine of Precedent
2. Stare decisis
3. Judicial Law Making:
Different Models of Judicial Law-making
Judicial Activism
Books for References
1. Benzamin N. Cardozo, The Nature of Judicial Process Chapter-III
2. R.W.M. Dias, Jurisprudence (1994) Chapter 7
3. Edgar, Boden heimer: Jurisprudence XVII pp 385-400 and XVIII pp 405-443
Module III
Theories of Punishment
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Expiatory Theory
Deterrent theory
Reformative theory
Rehabilitative theory
Constitutionality of Capital punishment

Books for References

1. Paton, A Textbook Jurisprudence (2007)354-387
Case-laws
1. Javed Ahmad vs. State of Maharashtra (1985)1 S.C.C. 275
2. State of Karnataka vs. Krishnappa (2004)4 S.C.C. 75
3. Ruliram vs. State of Haryana (2002)7 S.C.C. 691.
4. Moosakhan vs. State of Maharastra A.I.R. 1976 S.C.1.
5. Rakesh vs. B.L.Linga, Suptt. Jail, Bihar (1981)1 S.C.C.420
6. Bachan Singh vs. State of Punjab (1980)2 S.C.C.648
Module IV
Theories of Adjudication
1. Dworkin Theory of Adjudication
2. Harts Theory of Adjudication
3. Comparison of Judicial Process in India and United States of America
Books for References
1. H.L.A. Hart, The Concept of Law (ELBS edn. 1970)
2. Ronald Dwarkin, Social Rules and Judicial Legislation, 81, Yale L.J.856
3. M. Hidayatullah, U.S.A. and India, A.I.R. Rotary printing press, 1977.
Module V
Legal Concepts
1. Rights & Duties
Nature and Characteristics,
Theories of Rights
Kinds of Duties: Absolute Duties
Kinds of Legal Rights
Hohfelds Analysis of Legal Concepts.
Right-Duty Co-relationship.
Books for References
1. Salmond, Jurisprudence, Chapter-VII pp 215-233.
2. G.W Paton, A Texbook of Jurisprudence (2007) pp.284-306
3. C.K. Allen: Legal Duties, 1931
4. C.K.Allen, Legal Duties, (1931) 4 Yale L.J.331.
5. Allan R.White-Rights, 1985
Case Laws
1. State of Punjab v. Ram Lubhaya (1998)4 S.C.C.117.
2. Dane v. State A.I.R. 1968 Mad. 355
3. State of Rajasthan v. Union of India A.I.R. 1977 S.C. 1361/(1977)3 S.C.C. 592
Module VI
Ownership
1. Its Nature and Incidents
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2. Kinds of Ownership

Books for References

1. Paton, A Textbook of Jurisprudence (2007) pp 516-531
2. John Austin, Lecture XLVIII.
3. Salmond, Jurisprudence pp 246-262
Case-Laws
1. Dattaray Govind Maharaj vs. State of Maharashtra (1977)2 S.C.C.548
2. Unichoy v.State of Kerala A.I.R-1962 S.C.12
3. M.C.Mehta v. Union of India (1988) 1 S.C.C.471
4. K.M.Sharma v.Bharat Electronic ltd. (1987)3 S.C.C. 231.
Module VII
Possession
1.
2.
3.
4.

Nature and Concept

Salmond and Savigny: Theories of Possession
Possession in law & Possession in fact
Kinds of Possession

Books for References

1. R.W.M.Dias, Jurisprudence, Chapter 13
2. Salmond, Jurisprudence, 265-294
3. G.W.Paton, A Textbook of Jurisprudence (2007) 553-584
4. Good hart, Three cases on possession (in) Oxford Essays in Jurisprudence pp 8182
Case-Laws
1. Superintendent and Legal Rembembrancer W.B. vs. Anil Kumar Bhuj (1979) 4
S.C.C. 274.
2. Banobe vs. State of Maharastra (1999) 8 S.C.C. 463.
3. P.Laxmi Reddy vs. L.Laxmi Reddy (1957) 3 S.C.R.195
4. Konda Laxman Bapuji vs. State of Andhra Pradesh (2002) 3 S.C.C. 258
5. Sanjay Dutt vs. State through C.B.I. (1994) 5 S.C.C. 410
Module VIII
Legal Persons
1. Nature of Legal Personality
2. Kinds of Persons, Incorporation and Its Uses
3. Nature of Corporate Personality
Piercing the Corporate Veil.
Can a Corporation claim Fundamental Rights?

Books for References

1. Salmond, Jurisprudence pp. 298-328
2. Paton, A Textbook of Jurisprudence (2007) 391-426
3. R.W.M.Dias, Jurisprudence (Fifth edn.) Chapter 12
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Case-Laws
1. Vishwanath vs. Shree Thakur Radha Ballabh Ji (1967)2 S.C.R. 618
2. Shrimoni Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar vs. Somnath Das (2000)4
S.C.C. 146
3. Saloman vs. Saloman and Co. 1897 A.C. 22.
4. State Trading Corporation of India Ltd. v. C.T.O. A.I.R. 1963 S.C. 1811
5. Daimler Co. Ltd. v. Continental Tyre and Rubber Co. (Great Britain) Ltd. (1916)2
A.C. 307.
6. Som Prakash Rekhi v. Union of India (1981)1 S.C.C.449