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Important Latin Maxims for CLAT - Practice Questions & MCQ

Edited By admin | Updated on Oct 03, 2023 03:26 PM | #CLAT

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  • 10 Questions around this concept.

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Read the given passage very carefully and answer the question

Law attributes personality to all those entities that are capable of bearing rights or duties, so any entity which is capable of the same is treated as a person or personality under the law whether or not that entity is a human being or not. Such a conception of legal personality has resulted in the inclusion of entities like companies, idols, etc. A mere association of individuals does not form a legal person until the law recognizes, over and above the associated individuals, a fictitious being that represents them but it is not identical with them.

Legal personality is a particular device by which the law creates units to which it ascribes certain powers. One of the essential requirements of a legal personality is that the personality may, possess status.

Professor Keeton observes that the juristic person is the personification of the sum total of legal rules applicable to a plurality of persons. The conception of the juristic personality involves a double fiction, at first by fiction we create a unity, and then by a second fiction we attribute to it the wills of individual men. Salmond defines a juristic person as any subject- matter other than a human being to which the law attributes personality. The dead person is not a legal person as he cannot be a bearer of rights and duties; though the law does prohibit defamation of the dead (Section 499, The Indian Penal Code, 1860) as well as give effect to his will. Everyone is interested in maintaining a reputation even after death. The reputation of a dead person receives some degree of protection from criminal law. A defamation suit can be filed for the loss of reputation of a dead person. If the publication is an attack on the internet of living persons, as a matter of fact, this right is in reality not that of the dead person but of his living descendants.

Question

Rupesh is the principal shareholder. Money laundering charges are leveled against the principal shareholder of the Kolo Co. Ltd. Rupesh defrauded other shareholders too. The authorities filed a case against Rupesh. In the present scenario-

 

Read the given passage very carefully and answer the question

Law attributes personality to all those entities that are capable of bearing rights or duties, so any entity which is capable of the same is treated as a person or personality under the law whether or not that entity is a human being or not. Such a conception of legal personality has resulted in the inclusion of entities like companies, idols, etc. A mere association of individuals does not form a legal person until the law recognizes, over and above the associated individuals, a fictitious being that represents them but it is not identical with them.

Legal personality is a particular device by which the law creates units to which it ascribes certain powers. One of the essential requirements of a legal personality is that the personality may, possess status.

Professor Keeton observes that the juristic person is the personification of the sum total of legal rules applicable to a plurality of persons. The conception of the juristic personality involves a double fiction, at first by fiction we create a unity, and then by a second fiction we attribute to it the wills of individual men. Salmond defines a juristic person as any subject- matter other than a human being to which the law attributes personality. The dead person is not a legal person as he cannot be a bearer of rights and duties; though the law does prohibit defamation of the dead (Section 499, The Indian Penal Code, 1860) as well as give effect to his will. Everyone is interested in maintaining a reputation even after death. The reputation of a dead person receives some degree of protection from criminal law. A defamation suit can be filed for the loss of reputation of a dead person. If the publication is an attack on the internet of living persons, as a matter of fact, this right is in reality not that of the dead person but of his living descendants.

Question

What is the status of a child in the womb of a mother under the law?

 

Concepts Covered - 1

Important Latin Maxims

In the dynamic world of law, where precision and clarity are paramount, Latin maxims serve as powerful tools to encapsulate complex legal concepts concisely. These age-old phrases are not only integral to legal jargon but also form the bedrock of legal principles in various jurisdictions. Let's explore some of the most significant Latin maxims, understand their implications through examples and see how they fit in the Indian constitutional law and case studies.
 

1. Actus Reus

  • Latin Maxim: "Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea"
  • Meaning: An act does not make a person guilty unless there is a guilty mind.
  • Explanation: This maxim embodies a fundamental principle of criminal law – both a wrongful act (actus reus) and a culpable mental state (mens rea) are essential elements to establish criminal liability.
  • Example: Consider a situation where someone accidentally knocks over another person on a busy street. Without intent or knowledge, the act itself doesn't make them guilty. However, if it is proven that they acted recklessly, knowingly, or with malice, the actus reus combines with the mens rea to constitute a crime.

2. Res Ipsa Loquitur

  • Latin Maxim: "Res ipsa loquitur"
  • Meaning: The thing speaks for itself.
  • Explanation: This maxim is particularly relevant in negligence cases. It suggests that if an accident or harm occurs under circumstances where negligence is evident, the burden of proof shifts to the defendant to explain why they shouldn't be held liable.
  • Example: Imagine a scenario where a patient undergoing surgery wakes up with a surgical instrument left inside their body. The occurrence itself, in the absence of a reasonable explanation, suggests negligence on the part of the medical team, invoking the principle of res ipsa loquitur.

3. Audi Alteram Partem

  • Latin Maxim: "Audi alteram partem"
  • Meaning: Hear the other side.
  • Explanation: This maxim embodies the principles of natural justice, ensuring fairness in legal proceedings. It stipulates that both parties must be given an opportunity to present their side of the case before a decision is reached.
  • Example: In the context of academic institutions, if a student is accused of plagiarism, the principle of audi alteram partem mandates that the student must be given a chance to explain their position and defend themselves before any punitive action is taken.

4. Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat

  • Latin Maxim: "Ignorantia juris non excusat"
  • Meaning: Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
  • Explanation: This maxim underlines the principle that individuals are expected to be aware of the laws that govern them, and claiming ignorance as a defense is not valid.
  • Example: Consider a driver who speeds through a school zone, claiming they didn't know it was a restricted area. The maxim "ignorantia juris non excusat" holds true here; drivers are expected to be aware of speed limits, regardless of their knowledge about specific zones.

5. Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto

  • Latin Maxim: "Salus populi suprema lex esto"
  • Meaning: The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.
  • Explanation: This maxim places the collective well-being of society above all else, even above rigid legal rules.
  • Example: During a public health crisis, if a government imposes restrictions on movement to prevent the spread of disease, the principle of salus populi suprema lex esto justifies these measures in the interest of public health, even if they temporarily limit individual freedoms.

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