School of Law and Governance

BALAW4003C04 Public International Law L T P C

Version1.1 4 0 0 4
Pre-Requisites//Exposure Concept of State
Co-requisites Constitution of India
Semester IV
Programme B.A.LL.B. (H.)

1.0. Course Description:

Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous
entities, and intergovernmental organizations. International law also may affect multinational
corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond domestic legal
interpretation and enforcement. Public international law has increased in use and importance
vastly over the twentieth century, due to the increase in global trade, environmental
deterioration on a worldwide scale, awareness of human rights violations, rapid and vast
increases in international transportation and a boom in global communications. The field of
study combines two main branches: the law of nations (jus gentium) and international
agreements and conventions (jus inter gentes), which have different foundations and should
not be confused. In its most general sense, international law "consists of rules and principles of
general application dealing with the conduct of states and of intergovernmental organizations
and with their relations inter se, as well as with some of their relations with persons, whether
natural or juridical.
2.0 Course Objectives

 To attain the understanding of concepts , theories and judicial response with regard to
public International Law
 To understand Nature of International Law- Is International law a True Law
 To identify basis of International law
 To know Sources of PIL
 To understand concept of Recognition, Succession, Intervention, Extradition,
Asylums
 To understand the role of International Organisations
3.0 Course Outcomes

After completion of this paper student will be in a position;

 To appreciate the role of Public International Law in the society
 To understand the importance and implications of International Law & Organisations.
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 To understand that in absence of Municipal Law how Public International Law helps
the States to follow a Code of Conduct.

Pedagogy
A various learning methods will be used which will emphasize a cooperative learning format.
Student led discussions and presentations will be combined with instructor facilitated
experiences and lectures. Specific methods include:
 Class Room Discussion
 Lecture Method
 Presentations
 Case Studies
 Projects
 Court Room Exercise
 Problem method

5.0. Evaluation Scheme:

 30% - Continuous Internal Assessment (Formative in nature but also contributing to

the final grades).
 70% - End Term External Examination (University Examination).

6.0. Prescribed Books:

1. Robert Jennings and Arthur Watts (eds.), Oppenheim’s International Law
[Vol. I – Peace] (9th ed., 1996)
2. I. Brownlie, Principles of Public International Law (7th ed., 2008)
3. I.A. Shearer, Starke’s International Law (2007)
4. D.J. Harris, Cases and Materials on International Law (6th ed., 2004)
5. Gurdip Singh, International Law (2003)
7.0. Course Contents

Module I: Nature and Development of International Law

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Definition of International Law; International Law as “Law”; Basis of International Law -

Jurisprudential Theories; Codification of International Law; Sanctions of International Law;
Subjects of International Law; Approach of Developing Countries towards International Law

Module II: Sources of International Law

1. Statute of the International Court of Justice, 1945, Article 38 – (a) International
Treaties and Conventions; (b) International Custom; (c) General Principles of Law
Recognized by Civilized Nations; (d) Judicial Decisions, Juristic Opinion; (e) Ex
aequo et bono.

2. Other Sources of International Law: (a) Resolutions of General Assembly;

(b)Resolutions of Security Council
Case Laws
1. Lotus Case (France v. Turkey), PCIJ, Ser. A, No. 10 (1927)
2. North Sea Continental Shelf Cases, ICJ Rep. 1969, p. 3
3. Right of Passage over Indian Territory (Merits) (Portugal v. India), ICJ Rep. 1960, p.
6
4. Asylum Case (Columbia v. Peru), ICJ Rep. 1950, p. 266
5. Libya v. Tunisia Continental Shelf Case, ICJ Rep. 1982, p. 17
6. Libyan Arab Jamahiriya v. Malta, ICJ Rep. 1985, p. 35
7. Advisory Opinion of ICJ on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, 35
International Legal Materials 809 (1996)
8. Advisory Opinion of ICJ on the Effect of Awards of Compensation made by the
United Nations Administrative Tribunal , 1954 International Law Reports 310
9. Island of Palmas Case (Netherlands v. United States) (1928) Permanent Court of
Arbitration, 2 R.I.A.A. 829
10. Temple of PreahVihearCase (Merits) (Cambodia v. Thailand), ICJ Reports 1962, p.6
11. Advisory Opinion of ICJ on Namibia, ICJ Rep. 1971, p. 16
12. Advisory Opinion of ICJ in Western Sahara Case, ICJ Rep. 1975, p. 12
Treaties
1. Charter of the United Nations
2. Statute of the International Court of Justice

Module III: Relationship between International Law and Municipal Law

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1. Theories : (a) Monistic Theory (b) Dualistic Theory

2. Practice of States : India, United Kingdom, United States of America
Case Laws
13. In Re Berubari Union No. (I), AIR 1960 SC 845 : (1960) 3 SCR 250
14. Ram Kishore Sen v. Union of India (1966) 1 SCR 430 : AIR 1966 SC 644
15. Jolly George Varghese v. Bank of Cochin, AIR 1980 SC 470 (1980) 2 SCC 360
16. Gramophone Company of India Ltd. v. Birendra Bahadur Pandey, AIR 1984 SC 667
: (1984) 2 SCC 534
17. Union of India v. Sukumar Sengupta, AIR 1990 SC 1692 : 1990 Supp. SCC 545
18. Vellore Citizens’ Welfare Forum v. Union of India (1996) 5 SCC 647
19. Vishakha. State of Rajasthan, AIR 1997 SC 3011 : (1997) 6 SCC 241
20. CIT v. P.V.A.L. Kulandagan Chettiar(2004) 6 SCC 235
21. Committee of US Citizens Living in Nicaragua v. Reagan, US Court of Appeals
District of Columbia Circuit 1988, 859 Fed. Rptr. 2d 929

Module IV: State Responsibility

1. Basis of International Responsibility
2. Constituent Elements of International Responsibility: Damage Theory; Fault Theory;
Absolute Liability and Risk Theory
3. The Act of State (Rules of Attribution)
4. International Crimes and Delicts
5. Forms of Reparation : (a) Restitution; (b) Indemnity; (c) Satisfaction; (d) Guarantee
against Repetition
6. Expropriation of Property of Aliens: Calvo clause; Position of Shareholders and
Nationality of Corporation; Nationality by Naturalisation; Rule of Exhaustion of
Local Remedies
7. ILC Draft Code on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, 2001
Case Laws
22. Nottebohm (Liechtenstein v. Guatemala) Case, ICJ Rep. 1955, p. 4
23. Barcelona Traction, Light and Power Co. Ltd. Case, ICJ Rep.1964, p. 6
24. Corfu Channel Case, ICJ Rep. 1949, p. 4
25. Nicaragua Case (Nicaragua v. USA) ICJ Rep.1986, p. 14
26. LaGrand Case (Germany v. United States of America) ICJ Reports 2001, p. 466
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27. Case concerning Avena and other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of
America) ICJ Reports 2004, p. 12

Module V: Law of the Sea

1. Maritime Zones: Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Continental Shelf, Exclusive
Economic Zone and the High Seas
2. Delimitation of Adjacent and Opposite Maritime Boundaries
3. Concept of “Common Heritage of Mankind” Relating to the Resources of
International Seabed Area
4. International Seabed Mining – Parallel System of Mining
5. Indian Maritime Interests, Policy and Law
6. International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

Case Laws
28. Anglo-Norwegian Fisheries Case(United Kingdom v. Norway), ICJ Rep. 1951, p. 116
29. North Sea Continental Shelf Cases, ICJ Rep. 1969, p. 3
30. Libya v. Tunisia Continental Shelf Case, ICJ Rep. 1982, p. 17
31. Libyan Arab Jamahiriya v. Malta, ICJ Rep. 1985, p. 35
32. Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Questions between Qatar andBahrain (Qatar
v. Bahrain), ICJ Reports 2001, p. 40
Treaties and Statutes
1. Geneva Convention on Territorial Waters and Contiguous Zone, 1958
2. Geneva Convention on Continental Shelf, 1958
3. Geneva Convention on Conservation of Fishing Resources, 1958
4. Geneva Convention on High Seas, 1958
5. United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea, 1982
6. Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United
NationsConvention of 1994 on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982
7. The Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other
Maritime Zones Act, 1976

Module VI: Human Rights

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1. Human Rights: Concept, Basis and Evolution

2. Traditional Human Rights: Civil and Political Rights: Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights
3. Third Generation Human Rights (Solidarity Rights)
4. Implementation of Human Rights at International Level
5. Human Rights Council
6. European Convention on Human Rights
7. The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
Case Laws
33. Vishakha. State of Rajasthan, AIR 1997 SC 3011
34. Chairman, Rly. Board v. Chandrima Das (2000) 2 SCC 465

Treaties and Statutes

1. Universal Declaration on Human Rights, 1948
2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966
3. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966
4. Optional Protocol of International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, 1966
5. European Convention on Human Rights, 1950, Protocol 9 of 1990 and Protocol11 of
1994
6. The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (India)