Top 50 Legal Maxims for SLAT 2027

S. No.

Legal Maxim

Meaning

Example

1

Actio personalis moritur cum persona

A personal action dies with the person.

Certain purely personal claims may not survive the death of the claimant, although modern law provides important exceptions.

2

Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea

An act does not make a person guilty unless accompanied by a guilty mind.

A criminal offence may require both a prohibited act and the required criminal intention.

3

Actus reus

The physical or external element of a crime.

The actual conduct constituting a criminal offence may be described as actus reus.

4

Ad hoc

Created or done for a particular purpose or situation.

A committee established to deal with one specific issue may be described as an ad hoc committee.

5

Amicus curiae

Friend of the court.

A person appointed or permitted to assist the court may provide relevant legal or factual assistance without being a party to the dispute.

6

Audi alteram partem

Hear the other side.

A person affected by a decision should generally be given a reasonable opportunity to present their case.

7

Bona fide

In good faith.

A person acting honestly and without fraudulent intention may be described as acting bona fide.

8

Caveat emptor

Let the buyer beware.

A buyer is generally expected to exercise reasonable care before purchasing goods, subject to statutory protections and exceptions.

9

Caveat venditor

Let the seller beware.

Sellers may be responsible for complying with legal requirements concerning the quality, safety and description of goods.

10

Consensus ad idem

Meeting of minds.

For a valid agreement, the parties must agree upon the same thing in the same sense.

11

Damnum sine injuria

Damage without legal injury.

A person may suffer financial loss even though no legally protected right has been violated.

12

De facto

In fact or in actual practice.

A person may exercise authority de facto even though their legal status is disputed.

13

De jure

According to law or legally recognised.

A person legally entitled to hold a particular position is the de jure holder of that position.

14

Delegatus non potest delegare

A person to whom power has been delegated cannot ordinarily delegate that power further unless authorised.

A statutory authority given a particular power may not automatically transfer that power to someone else.

15

Ejusdem generis

Of the same kind or class.

When specific words are followed by general words, the general words may be interpreted as referring to things of the same kind as the specific words.

16

Ex parte

Proceedings involving one party in the absence of another party.

A court may, in appropriate circumstances, proceed ex parte when a party fails to appear despite proper notice.

17

Ex turpi causa non oritur actio

No action arises from an illegal or immoral cause.

A person generally cannot rely on their own illegal conduct as the basis of a legal claim.

18

Expressio unius est exclusio alterius

The express mention of one thing implies the exclusion of another.

Where legislation specifically mentions certain matters, it may indicate that matters not mentioned were intentionally excluded, depending on the context.

19

Fiat justitia ruat caelum

Let justice be done though the heavens fall.

The maxim expresses the idea that justice should be pursued regardless of the consequences.

20

Generalia specialibus non derogant

General provisions do not ordinarily override specific provisions.

Where a specific legal rule and a general rule appear to conflict, the specific provision may prevail in relation to the particular subject.

21

Habeas corpus

Literally, “you shall have the body.”

The writ of habeas corpus is used to challenge unlawful detention and requires the detained person to be produced before the court.

22

Ignorantia juris non excusat

Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

A person generally cannot avoid legal responsibility merely by claiming that they did not know the law.

23

In personam

Against a particular person.

A judgment imposing a personal obligation on a defendant is generally described as operating in personam.

24

In rem

Against a thing or concerning a person's status or property as against the world.

Certain proceedings determine rights or status that have effect beyond the immediate parties.

25

Injuria sine damno

Legal injury without actual damage.

A violation of a legal right may be actionable even when the claimant cannot show actual financial loss.

26

Inter alia

Among other things.

A judgment may discuss several issues, inter alia, the validity of a contract.

27

Lex loci

The law of the place.

The legal rules applicable to a transaction or event may depend on the law of the place where it occurred, subject to applicable conflict-of-law principles.

28

Lex non cogit ad impossibilia

The law does not compel a person to do what is impossible.

A legal obligation may not be enforced in a manner that requires an objectively impossible act.

29

Locus standi

The right or capacity to bring a legal action or appear before a court.

A person must generally have sufficient legal standing to challenge a particular decision.

30

Mala fide

In bad faith.

A decision taken with an improper or dishonest motive may be challenged as mala fide where the law permits.

31

Mens rea

The guilty mind or mental element required for certain offences.

Intention, knowledge or recklessness may constitute the required mental element depending on the offence.

32

Mutatis mutandis

With the necessary changes having been made.

A legal rule may apply to another situation mutatis mutandis, after making the changes required by the different circumstances.

33

Nemo dat quod non habet

No one can transfer a better title than they themselves have.

A person without valid ownership generally cannot give another person a better title to the property than they possess.

34

Nemo judex in causa sua

No one should be a judge in their own cause.

A person having a personal interest in a dispute should not decide that dispute.

35

Noscitur a sociis

A word is known by the company it keeps.

The meaning of an unclear word in a statute may be understood by examining the words surrounding it.

36

Obiter dictum

A statement or observation made by a judge that is not essential to deciding the case.

A judge may discuss a legal issue that is not necessary for the final decision; such an observation is generally considered obiter.

37

Pacta sunt servanda

Agreements must be kept.

Parties to a valid contract are generally expected to perform their contractual obligations.

38

Per se

By itself or in itself.

An act may be examined per se, meaning independently or by its own nature.

39

Prima facie

At first sight or on the face of it.

Prima facie evidence may establish a sufficient basis for a claim or proceeding unless rebutted.

40

Qui facit per alium facit per se

One who acts through another acts himself.

Under certain circumstances, an employer may be legally responsible for an employee's acts performed within the scope of employment.

41

Ratio decidendi

The legal principle or reasoning necessary for a court's decision.

The binding legal principle established by a higher court forms part of its ratio decidendi.

42

Res ipsa loquitur

The thing speaks for itself.

In certain negligence cases, the nature of the accident itself may provide evidence from which negligence can be inferred.

43

Res judicata

A matter that has already been judicially decided should not ordinarily be litigated again between the same parties on the same cause.

A final decision by a competent court can prevent the same dispute from being reopened.

44

Res sub judice

A matter is under judicial consideration.

Certain legal proceedings may be stayed when the same matter is already pending before a competent court, subject to applicable procedural rules.

45

Respondeat superior

Let the superior answer.

An employer may, under the law of vicarious liability, be held responsible for certain acts of an employee committed in the course of employment.

46

Salus populi suprema lex

The welfare of the people is the supreme law.

The maxim expresses the principle that public welfare can be treated as a fundamental consideration in governance.

47

Stare decisis

To stand by things decided.

Courts generally follow established judicial precedents, particularly decisions of higher courts.

48

Suo motu

On its own motion or initiative.

A court may take cognisance of an issue on its own initiative where legally permitted.

49

Ubi jus ibi remedium

Where there is a right, there is a remedy.

If a legally recognised right is violated, the law may provide a remedy for that violation.

50

Volenti non fit injuria

To one who voluntarily consents, no injury is done.

A person who knowingly and voluntarily accepts a particular risk may have difficulty claiming compensation for harm arising from that accepted risk, subject to the law.