Studies have become easy with technology. Now a student can Google the questions and get an answer. But the chance of getting the most appropriate answer is still less.
During law exams, students want to score in short questions as they don’t take much time to attempt and make up a good score. It is necessary to go through important short law notes. They can be covered in less time and are useful in exam time.
With this article, I have attempted to showcase the most important law topics which are helpful for CLAT exam, other entrance exams, judiciary, and even the LLB course. These notes are also helpful in solving MCQs faster and quickly.
Important Topics for CLAT 2021 and other Law Exams
These are some of the most important law topics for CLAT, Judiciary, and all other law exams.
1. Sovereignty
It means a country or a state to be free from external controls. It implies the state with absolute power and free from any kind of dominance. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, but the source of the Constitution is “the people of India. Preamble itself declares that it is the resolution of “we the people of India.”
2. Fundamental Rights
Fundamental rights are available in Part III of the Constitution. These rights are guaranteed to the people of India and few rights only to the citizens. The rights are available against the state. Fundamental rights are also known as constitutional rights, but all constitutional rights are not fundamental rights. Article 13 makes every law null and void to the extent it violates fundamental rights.
3. What is Doctrine of Severability
This doctrine comes into application when the validity of any part of statute or law is in question. It is argued that whether the whole statute should be declared null and void or only that part which violates fundamental rights. The doctrine says that if the invalid part can be separated from the statute, then that part must be severed and declared as void. The whole statute remains valid after severing the invalid part. But if in case the part cannot be separated, then the whole act is declared void.
4. What is Doctrine of Eclipse
This doctrine applies to pre-constitutional laws – the laws which were operative before the Constitution came into force. Any pre-constitutional law which violates fundamental rights becomes inoperative from the day Constitution comes into operation. Any law that violates fundamental rights can’t remain valid. Such law, which becomes unconstitutional or invalid, comes under the shadow of fundamental rights like the sun comes under the shadow of the moon. This is called the doctrine of eclipse.
Famous case: Bhikaji Narain vs. the State of Madhya Pradesh
5. Writs under Article 32 and Article 226
A writ is an order or direction issued by the court. There are five kinds of writs mentioned in the Constitution. The Supreme Court has the power to issue writs under Article 32 for violation of fundamental rights and the High Courts under Article 226 for violation of fundamental rights as well as legal rights. The scope for issuing writs is wider with the High Courts in comparison to the Supreme Court.
The five kinds of writs are:-
- Habeas corpus means “to present the body.”
- Mandamus means a “command” to public authority.
- Quo warranto means “what is your authority to hold office.”
- Prohibition means “to prohibit” the inferior court from exceeding its jurisdiction.
- Certiorari means “to certify” the proceedings of an inferior court.
6. Indemnity and Guarantee
Section 124 of the Indian Contract Act says that if in a contract one party promises to save the other party from any loss incurred, it is called a contract of indemnity. The party who promises is indemnifier and to whom the promise is made is indemnity holder.
Section 126 of the Indian Contract Act defines the contract of guarantee. It is performed by a third person called surety. There are three parties to the contract – that is, the principal debtor who borrows money, creditor who gives money, and surety who ensures to discharge the liability of the debtor in case of default.
7. Bailment and Pledge
Section 148 of the Indian Contract Act defines bailment. When a person delivers his goods to the other person for a specific period of time and for some purpose, it is a contract of bailment. The person who delivers goods is bailor, and to whom goods are delivered is bailee.
Section 172 of the Contract Act defines pledge. When the goods are bailed as a security for debt, it is pledge. The bailor is pawner and bailee is pawnee.
Must Read: What Is Pledge Under the Indian Contract Act?
8. Pledge and Mortgage
Pledge is the bailment of movable goods for the security of debt. It is dealt under the Indian Contract Act. In mortgage, immovable property is given as a security for debt. It is dealt in the Transfer of Property Act.
9. Intention in Crime
The intention to commit an act is seen from the overt act of a person. Intention is not punishable in law. It is difficult to assume anyone’s intention in prospect of crime. Intention hides behind the conduct of a person. Bad intention always reflects in the conduct of a person. A crime is punishable only when it is attempted and not at the stage of mens-rea or intention.
10. Law of tort or torts
There are two theories in this regard that whether it is law of tort or law of torts. Winfield said that every act which is twisted or crooked is civil wrong and tort. He said that it is law of tort, and any person who commits tort must compensate damages to the other party.
On the other side, Salmond said that every act is not torts. Only some specified and classified acts are torts. He gave a pigeon-hole theory and said that torts must lie under this theory. Any other torts which are not classified in this hole is not a tort. It means, according to him, only specified mentioned wrongs are wrongs and not any other act.
11. Assault and Battery
Assault is a mere gesture. It is to create apprehension in the mind of other that he is going to be attacked. For example, showing a gesture of stick towards a person creates apprehension in the mind of that person that he is going to be beaten by that stick.
Battery is a result of an assault. When the gesture of assault converts into action on a person, it is battery. It means using criminal force on another person. For example, slapping a person or beating a person wrongfully is battery.
Battery is a civil wrong, whereas criminal force is mentioned in the Indian Penal Code. Both have different procedures.
Note: This list only has a few of the most important topics. These are definitely not all. Also, you will have to read all these topics in detail.
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Excellent sir
Good Topics chosen for Daily Law content.
Glad these law topics were helpful.
It is very helpful and informative to all thanks to you.
Happy these small law topics helped you. 😊
Thanku writing law for explaining these little topics in a simple way…keep it up
Happy these small bites of law topics helped. 🙂