LEGAL METHOD AND INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL SYSTEM

Semester – I

INTRODUCTION OF THE COURSE:

This course is the window to see the law and it is the beginning of law students’
transformation into lawyers. It teaches the students to engage with legal texts, to think critically
about the law, and most importantly, to think, analyze and reason like a lawyer. The course will
familiarize students with theoretical debates on the nature of law and will acquaint them with
their real world consequences. It will equip students to gain a basic understanding of the legal
system, the institutions, the nature of legal rules, the technique of legal and logical reasoning and
analysis.
The course focuses on orientation of students to legal studies from the point of view of
basic concepts of law and legal systems. Law as an independent discipline has its own materials
and methods. Though related to and reflective of social processes, its development is unique in
several respects. The character and content of legal knowledge are explained to the students in a
systematic manner. Familiarity with the sources of law and with legal materials and competence
to find the law by the use of the law library are major concerns of this course. The skill to
appreciate law as a process in the context of other processes in society (political, economic,
cultural, and social) is one of the goals of this course. The course may help the student to think
and acts like a lawyer and respond to law studies accordingly. This course also deals with legal
and judicial process, art of analyzing the judgments. Moreover, it also deals with the techniques
and ideas of legal research which also includes the use and importance of citations, etc.
This course is designed to offer the students-
1. To equip students with a broadly based understanding of the operation of the Indian
legal system and legal system of other countries.
2. To develop a comparative understanding of the different legal systems.
3. To foster an ability to interpret and use legal language.
4. To develop in students a critical awareness of the social, political and cultural context
in which law operates and its international dimensions.
5. To develop students’ critical interest in reform of the law.
6. To allow students to develop and enhance basic information technology skills.

TOTAL NO. OF LECTURES REQUIRED - 50 – 60 Lectures

EVALUATION
Attendance : 05
Research Projects (Presentation) : 25[Viva and Project]
Mid Semester Examination : 20
End Semester Examination : 40
Snap Test : 10
TOTAL :100
LEGAL METHOD AND INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL SYSTEM
Module – I Nature and Function of Law (05 Lectures)
Unit-I
a) Meaning and Definition of Law
b) Function and Purpose of Law
c) Classification of Law
 i) Public and Private Law
ii) Criminal and Civil Law
iii) Substantive and Procedural Law
iv) Municipal and International Law
References:
Books:
1. S.R. Myneni, Legal Language and Legal Writing, (1st ed.), Asia Law House, Hyderabad, 2008
(Chapter 10 (Unit I)).
2. V.D. Mahajan, Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, (5th ed.), Eastern Book Co., Lucknow, 2005
(Chapters 2 & 5).
3. S.K. Mishra, Legal Language, Legal Writing & General English, (1st ed.), Allahabad Law
Agency, (2008), ( Chapter 1 at p. 15-31).
4. S.N. Dhyani, Jurisprudence and Indian Legal Theory,Central Law Agency.

Module – II Sources of Law (04 Lectures)

Unit-I
a)Sources of Law
i) Custom
ii) Precedent
iii) Legislation
References:
Books:
1. V.D. Mahajan, Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, (5th ed.), Eastern Book Co., Lucknow, 2005
(Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11).
2. S. N. Dhyani, Jurisprudence & Indian Legal Theory, Central Law Agency (Chapters 13, 14).
3. S.K. Mishra, Legal Language, Legal Writing & General English, (1st ed.), Allahabad Law
Agency, (2008), ( Chapter 1 at p. 18-21).
4. S.R. Myneni, Legal Language and Legal Writing, (1st ed.), Asia Law House, Hyderabad, 2008
(Chapter 10 p.176-182).

Module – III Fundamentals of Statutory Interpretation (04 Lectures)

Unit-I
a)What is Statute Law?
b) Rules of Interpretation
c)Aid to Interpretation of Statutes
References:
Books:
1. V.D. Mahajan, Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, (5th ed.), Eastern Book Co., Lucknow, 2005
(Chapter 9 p.195 - 214).
2. P.St.J. Langan, The Interpretation of Statute, (12th ed.), Lexis Nexis, (2004).
3. William N. Eskridge, Jr., Dynamic Statutory Interpretation, Universal Law Publishing Co. Pvt.
Ltd., (2000).
Webliography:
1. [http://www.google.co.in/] [Statute Law]
2. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statutory_law] [Statutory Law]
3. [http://books.google.co.in/rulesofinterpretation] [Rules of Interpretation]
 Module – IV Judgment Analysis and Precedent (08 Lectures)

Unit-I
a) Case Law in the study of Legal Method
b) Studying Law under the Case Method
c) What is Precedent?
d) Determining the Ratio-decidendi of a Case
e) Understanding Law Reports
References:
Books:
1. V.D. Mahajan, Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, (5th ed.), Eastern Book Co., Lucknow, 2005
(Chapter 10 at p.115 - 253).
2. Sharon Hanson, Legal Method, Cavendish Publishing Ltd. (Chapter 4 at p. 59 - 98).
3. A. Lakshminath, Precedent in the Indian Legal System, Eastern Book Company, 1990 (Chapter
1).
4. Andrew Goodman, How Judges decide Cases, Universal Law Publishing Co., (2009).
5. Edgar Bodenheimer, Jurisprudence, Universal Law Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., 2006 (Chapter 18).
Webliography:
1. [http://www.google.co.in/][Meaning of Precedent]
2.[http://www.rnd.in/gs/?q=Wikipedia][Precedent]
3. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_report [Law Report]

Module – V Legal and Judicial Process (12 Lectures)

Unit-I
a)Parliamentary Procedure
b)Concept of Rule of Law
c)Doctrine of Separation of Power
d) Classification of Administrative Action
e)Rule Making Power of Administration (Delegated Legislation)
Unit-II
a)Judicial Activism
b)Legitimacy of Judicial Activism
c)Writ Jurisdiction (Supreme Court)
d)Judicial Review of Administrative Action
e)Social Action Litigation or Social Interest Litigation.
i) Locus Standi
g) Prospective Overruling and Judicial Restrain

References:
Books:
1. S.P. Sathe, Administrative Law, (7th ed.), Lexis Nexis, 2007 (Chapter 2, 4)
2. Subhash C. Kashyap, Parliamentary Procedure, Universal Law Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd. Vol. 1,
2000, ( at Chapter 15, p. 817).
3. Noor Mohammad Bilal, Dyanamism of Judicial Control and Administrative Adjudication, Deep
& Deep Publication, (2004).
4. S.P. Sathe, Judicial Activism in India, Oxford University Press, 2008 (Chapter VII).
5. I.P. Massey, Administrative Law, Eastern Book Company, (7th ed.), 2008, (Chapters 2, 3 at p.
48-60, 4 at p.84 – 97, 8 at p. 403, 9).
6. M.P. Jain, Indian Constitutional Law, (5th ed.), Wadhawa, Nagpur, (2004).
Cases:
1. S.L. Kapoor v. Jagmohan, (1980) 4 SCC 382.
2. Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India, AIR 1984 SC 802.
3. Sheela Barse v. Union of India, AIR 1988 SC 2211.
4. State of Punjab v. G.S. Gill, (1997) 6 SCC 129.
5. State of Punjab v. Tehal Sighn, (2002) 2 SCC 7.
6. Golak Nath v. State of Punjab, AIR 1967 SC 1643.
Webliography:
1. [http://www.goforthelaw.com/articles/fromlawstu/article3.htm] [The Rule of Law ]
1. [http://nigerianlawguru.com/articles/jurisprudence/JUDICIAL%20ACTIVISM.pdf [Judicial
Activism]
2. [http://www.naavi.org/praveen_dalal/judicial_review_aug06_04.htm [Judicial Review]
4.[http://www.itatonline.org/articles_new/?p=50][Judicial Activism]

Module – VI Indian Legal System (04 Lectures)

Unit-I
a)Indian Court Structure
b) Supreme Court of India (Jurisdiction)
References:
Books:
1. S.R. Myneni, Legal Language and Legal Writing, (1st ed.), Asia Law House, Hyderabad, 2008
(Chapters 4 ( Unit II).
2. M.P. Jain, Indian Constitutional Law, (5th ed.), Wadhawa, Nagpur, (2004).
3. Arvind Datar, Commentary on the Constitution of India, (2nd edn.), Wadhawa, Nagpur, (2007).
4. P.M. Bakshi, The Constitution of India, (7th ed.), Universal Law Pub., New Delhi, (2006).

Module – VII Legal Research (04 Lectures)

Unit-I
a)Importance of Legal Research
b) Legal Research – Techniques and Ideas
c)Citations
References:
Books:
1. Robert Watt, Concise Legal Research, (5th ed.), Universal Law Pub. Pvt. Co., New Delhi, 2004
(Chapter 1).
2. S.K. Verma and M. Afzal Wani, Legal Research and Methodology, (2nd ed.), The Indian Law
Institute, 2001 ( Chapter Part- B p.219-240).
3. Sharon Hanson, Legal Method, Cavendish Pub. Ltd., London, (1999).

Module – VIII Using Law Library (04 Lectures)

Unit-I
 a)Importance of Law Library
b) Using a Law Library
c)Finding the Law
References:
Books:
1. S.K. Verma and M. Afzal Wani, Legal Research and Methodology, (2nd ed.), The Indian Law
Institute, 2001 ( Chapter Part B p. 241-263).
2. Robert Watt, Concise Legal Research, (5th ed.), Universal Law Pub. Pvt. Co., New Delhi, 2004
(Chapter 6)
3. S.R. Myneni, Legal Research Methodology, (3rd ed.), Allahabad Law Agency, 2004 (Chapter 12)
4. S.K. Mishra, Legal Language, Legal Writing and General English, (1st ed.), Allahabad Law
Agency, 2008 (Chapter12)

Module – IX Use of E-Sources and Legal Research (04 Lectures)

Unit-I
a)Use of Internet Explorer and Search Engine for Legal Information
b) International Legal Service Providers
c) National Legal Service Providers
d) Quotable Quotes
References:
Books:
1. S.R. Myneni, Legal Research Methodology, (3rd ed.), Allahabad Law Agency, 2004
Compulsory Readings:
Books:
1. Granville Willains, Learning the Law.
2. Nomita Aggarwal, Jurisprudence (Legal Theory).
3. B.N.M. Tripathi, An Introduction to Jurisprudence and Legal Theory.
General Bibliography:
1. Benjamin N. Cardozo, ‘The Nature of Judicial Process’.
2. Andrew Goodman, ‘How Judges Decide Cases: Reading, Writing and Analysing
Judgements’, Universal Law Pub., 2009.

Essential Case Law:

1. Raj Kishore Jha v. State of Bihar, AIR 2003 SC 4664
2. Commissioner of Income Tax, Hyderabad v. P.J. Chemicals, 1994 Suppl. (3) SCC 535
3. Air India v. Narges Mirza, AIR 1981 SC 1829
4. Geeta Hariharan v. Reserve Bank of India, AIR 1999 SC 1149
5. Meera Mathur v. LIC 1992 (1) SCC 286
6. D.K.Basu v. State of West Bengal 1997 (1) SCC 417
7. Dwarka Prasad Agrawal v. B.D. Agrawal, AIR 2003 SC 2686
8. Commissioner of Wealth Tax, Meerut v. Sharvan Kumar Swarup & Sons, 1994 (6) SCC 623
9. Shikhar Chand Falodia v. S.K. Sanganeria, AIR 2004 Gau. 19
10. Grandphone Company v. B.B. Pandey, AIR 1984 SC 667
11. Peoples Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India, 1997 (1) SCC 301
12. Lachman v. Nand Lal, AIR 1914 Oudh 123
13. R.K. Tangkhul v. V.R. Simirei, AIR 1961 Manipur 1
14. Balusami v. Balkrishna, AIR 1957 Mad. 97
15. Tekaha A.O. v. Sakumeeran A.O., AIR 2004 SC 3674
16. Superintendent and Remembrancer of Legal Affairs West Bengal v. Corporation of Calcutta,
AIR 1967 SC 997
17. Nath Bros. Exim International Ltd. v. Best Roadways Ltd. 2000 (4) S.C.C. 553
18. State of Bihar v. Sonawati, AIR 1961 SC 221, 231
19. Samta Vedike v. State of Karnataka, 2003 CR.L.J. 1003 Kar. H.C.
20. Ram Jawaya Kapur v. State of Punjab, AIR 1955 SC 549, 556

Teaching plan-
1. E-teaching Method
2. Lecture Method
3. Case- study Method
4. Groups Discussion Method.