TRIMESTER I

Title of the subject: Law of Torts Including Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
Subject code: LLB129A Credits: 4

Rationale:
Law of Torts sets out the law of private rights and remedies which are not extensively
covered by statutory law. The students will be able to study how rights and duties are
interlinked. Law of Torts enforces a breach of duty which a person owes towards other
individual. It is mostly un-codified law which is in continuous process of development.
Only few aspects of it are codified like workmen’s compensation, motor vehicle
accidents, environmental degradation, consumer protection and others. Presently, the
tortious liability is not limited to hazardous act but also extends to failure to comply with
the requisite standards. Law of Torts is a branch of common law which has a large
potential to expand and apply its principles in contemporary areas like Human Rights,
Environmental Rights, and Intellectual Property Rights.The Course also incorporates the
important provisions of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Objectives:
1. To study in details the concept of civil wrong differentiating from contractual
liability
2. To study the theory and philosophy of the evolution of torts in Common Law
system
3. To examine the differing requirements which lead to civil liability for torts
against persons and personal relations Assault and Battery, False Imprisonment,
Defamation, Malicious Prosecution, interference with immoveable property,
Trespass to Land, Dispossession, Nuisance, interference with goods Trespass to
Goods, Conversion, Detention, torts involving deception of others Deceit,
Malicious Falsehood, Passing Off, torts affecting reputation of goods and
property, Slander of Goods, Slander of Title, Maintenance and Champetry,
negligence, product and services liability in the context of Consumer Protection
Act
4. To analyze the important judgments laying down the foundations for the
principles and doctrines developed under Law of Torts
5. To make the students well acquainted with this branch of law governing actions
for damages for injuries to certain kinds of rights, like the right to personal
security, property and reputation

Intended Learning outcomes:

1. We are anticipating that the students after studying the course will be able to
differentiate different kinds of civil wrong
2. The students will be well versed with the legal doctrines that form the law of torts
 3. In addition, they will have insight of judicial opinions on different aspects of the tort
law system Module I
• Evolution of Law of Tort in Common law- forms and action and Specific remedies
from case to case
• Evolution of Law of Torts in India

• Definitional Issues, Nature and Scope of Law of Torts- Torts and Crime; Torts and
Contract; Concept of Un-liquidated damages
• Relevancy of intention, motive and malice in Law of Torts
• Constituents of Torts- Wrongful Act, Legal Damage and Remedy- Injuria Sine
Damno and Damnum Sine Injuria
• Parties: Capacity and Parties in Torts; Joint and Several Tort-feasors; Malfeasance,
Misfeasance, Nonfeasance.
• Defences: Consent as defence; Volenti non fit injuria; Act of God (Vis Major);
Inevitable Accident; Necessity; Private Defence; Novus actus interveniens;
Contributory Negligence; Statutory Authority; Judicial and Quasi-judicial
Authority; Parental and Quasi-parental Authority.
Case Laws
1. White v. Warrick & Co. Ltd. , (1953) 2 All ER 1021
2. Municipal Corporation of Delhi v. Subhagwanti, AIR 1966 SC 1750
3. Town Area Committee v. Prabhu Dayal, AIR 1975 All. 132
4. P. Seetharamayya v. G. Mahalakshmamma, AIR 1958 AP 103
5. Ashby v. White, (1703) 2 Lord Rayam 933
6. Bhim Singh vs. State of J&K, AIR 1968 SC 494
7. Constantine v. Imperial Hotel Ltd., (1944) KB 693
8. Gloucester Grammar School Case 1410 YB 11 6.
9. Mogul Steamship Co. v. Mc Gregor Grow and Co., 1892 AC 25 7.
10. Mayor of Bradford Copn. v. Pickles, (1895) AC 587 8.
11. Glasgow Copn. v. Taylor (1922) 1 AC 44
12. P&O Steam Navigation Co. v. Secretary of State (1861) 5 Bom. HC
13. State of Rajasthan v. Vidyavathi, AIR 1962 SC 933
14. Smith v. Charles Baker and Sons (1891) AC 325 (HL)
15. Haynes v. Harwood (1935) 1 K B 146
16. Kasturilal v. State of UP, AIR 1965 SC 1039
17. Rooplal v. Union of India, AIR 1972 J&K 22
18. Ramngulu v. Mullackal Devasam, AIR 1975 Kerala 25
19. Brook v. Bool (1928) 2 KB 578 7.
20. KSRTC v. Krishnan, AIR 1981 Kant.11
21. T.Pillai v. Municipal Council, Shericottah, AIR 1961 Mad. 230
22. VM Vadi v. Vijayawada Municipality, AIR 1963 AP 435 23. Hall v. Brook Lands
Auto Racing Club, (1933) 1 KB 205 24. Padmawathi v. Dugganaika, (1975)1
Kan.LJ 93
25. Brown v. Kendall, (1850) 6 Cush.
26. Nichols v. Marshland (1876) 2 Ex.D 1
 27. Kallulal v. Hemachand, AIR 1958 MP 48
28. Herbert Richard v. Muniswami, ILR (1950) Mad. 365
29. Cope v. Shape (1891) KB 496
30. Vaughan v. Taff Valde Rail Co. (1860) 5 H and N 679
31. Singleton Abbey v. Paludina, 1927 AC 16
32. Rural Transport Service v. Bezlum Bibi, AIR 1980 Cal. 165 6
33. Davis v. Mann (1882) 10 M&W 546
34. Subhakar v. Mysore State Road Transport Corpn. AIR 1975 Ker. 73

Module II
• Trespass: Trespass to Person; Assault; Battery; Mayhem; False Imprisonment.
• Trespass to Land: Definition; Methods; Trespass abinitio; Remedies; Defences
• Trespass to Goods: Definition; Essential Elements; Remedies
• Nuisance: Definition; Types of Nuisance: Private, Public and Statutory Nuisance;
Essentials of Private Nuisance; Remedies; Defences.
• Negligence: Definition; Elements of Negligence; Res Ipsa Loquitor; Contributory
Negligence; Defences.; Nervous shock

Cases Laws:
1. R v. St. George (1846) 9 C &P 483
2. Blake v. Barnard, (1840) 9 CP 626
3. Stephen v. Mayers (1840) 4 CP 349
4. Timothy v. Simpson (1835) 1 Cr M &R 757 7
5. Bird v. Jones (1845) 7 QB 742
6. Herring v. Boyle (1834) 1 Cr M & R 377
7. Meering v. Grahame (1914)122 LT 44
8. Bhim Singh v. State of J&K, AIR 1968 SC 494
9. Rudul Shah v. State of Bihar, (1983) 4 SCC 141
10. Ellis v. Loftus Iron Co. 1874 LR 10 CP 19
11. Six Carpenters Case (1610) 8 Co. Ref.146
12. Municipal Board of Kanuj v. Manoharlal, 1952 ILR 2 All 1362
13. Armory v. Delamirie (1721) 1 Stir 505
14. Donoghue v. Stevenson (1932) All ER Rep. 1
15. Municipal Corporation of Delhi v. Subhagwanti, AIR 1966 SC 1750
16. Pinnamaneni Narasimha Rao v. Gundavarapu Jayaprakasu, AIR 1990 AP 207
17. Jacob Mathew v. State of Punjab (2005) 6 SCC 1
18. Malay Kumar Ganguly v. Sukumar Mukherjee & Ors AIR 2010 SC 1162
19. Hambrook v. Stokes Bros. (1924) All ER Rep. 110
20. (Hay or) Bourhill v. Young (1942) 2 All ER 396 (HL)
21. McLoughlin v. O’Brian (1982) 2 All ER 907 (HL)
21. Alcock v. Chief Constable of the South Yorkshire Police (1991) 4 All ER 907 (HL)

Module III
• Remoteness of Damages
• Strict Liability: Introduction; Rule in Ryland v. Fletcher; Dangerous thing; Escape
of thing; Non-natural use of land; Exceptions - Its criticisms
• Absolute Liability; Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster Case
• Vicarious Liability: Master and Servant; Doctrine of Common Employment
• Vicarious Liability of State: Basis of Liability; Position in England and India;
• Government Liability in Torts: Constitutional Provisions; Sovereign and Non-
sovereign Functions; Law Commissionof India First Report, 1956; Violation of
Fundamental Rights and Sovereign Immunity

Case Laws
1. In Re An Arbitration between Polemis and Furness, Withy & Co. (1921) All ER Rep. 40

2. Overseas Tankship [UK] Ltd. v. Morts Dock & Engineering Co. [The Wagon
Mound] (1961) 1 All ER 404
3. Hughes v. Lord Advocate (1963) AC 837
4. Smith v. Leech Brain & Co. (1961) 3 All ER 1159
5. Rylands v. Fletcher (1868) LR 3 HL 330
6. M. C. Mehta v. Union of India, AIR 1987 SC 1086
7. M. P. Electricity Board v. Shail Kumar, AIR 2002 SC 551

Module IV
• Defamation: Introduction; Definition; Libel and Slander; Its Differences; Essentials
of Defamation; Innuendo; Defences.
• Malicious Prosecution: Essential Conditions; Distinction between Malicious
Prosecution and False Imprisonment
• The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: Liability without Fault in certain cases; Insurance of
Motor Vehicle Against Third Party Risks; Claims Tribulation, Strict and Absolute
Liability, Remoteness of Damages

Case Laws:
1. Prof. Imtiaz ahmad v. Durdana Zamir (2009) 109 DRJ 357
2. Tushar Kanti Ghosh v. Bina Bhaumic (1953) 57 CWN 378
3. Rustom K. Karanjia v. K. M. D. Thakersey, AIR 1970 Bom. 424
4. Melepurath Sankunni Ezhuthassan v. Thekittil Geopalankutty Nair(1986) 1 SCC 11
5. K. Nandakumar v. M.D. Thantai Periyar Transport Corporation, 1996 ACV 555 (S.C.)
6. National Insurance Company Ltd. v. Pushpa & Ors Special Leave Petition (Civil) no.
25590 of 2014
7. United India Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Sunil Kumar & Anr.
8. S.Rajaseekaran vs Union of India and Ors. Writ Petition (Civil) no. 295 of 2012

Statutory Readings:
1. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
2. The Motor Vehicles Act,1988

Text Books:
1. Ratanlal & Dhirajlal, The Law of Torts, 24th Edn-2015, Wadhwa, Nagpur
2. W V H Rogers, Winfield & Jolowicz Tort, 19th Edn-2015, Sweet & Maxwell,
London

Suggested References:
1. A.S. Bhatnagar, Motor Accident Compensation, Orient Law House
2. Basu, Durga Das, Law of Torts, Kamal Law House (2000)
3. Baxi Upendra, Dhanda Amita and Indian Law Institute, Valiant Victims and Lethal
Litigation: The Bhopal Case, N.M. Tripathi, (1990)
4. Baxi Upendra, Paul Thomas, Mass Disaster and Multinational Liability: The Bhopal
Case, N.M. Tripathi, (1986)
5. B M Gandhi, Law of Torts, EBC, Lucknow, 2002
6. Boston Gerald, Madden Stuart M. and Madden M. Stuart, Law of Environmental
and Toxic Torts: Cases, Materials and Problems, West Publishing Company, (2005)

7. Cranor Carl F., Toxic Torts: Science, Law and the Possibility of Justice, Cambridge
University Press, (2006)
8. Fowler Gregory L. and Aspatore Books, International Product Liability Law: A
Worldwide Desk Reference Featuring Product Liability Laws & Customs in 50+
Countries, Aspatore Books(2003)
9. G.P. Singh, Ratanlal & Dhirajlal The Law of Torts (26th ed., updated re-print 2015)
4. Tony Weir, A Casebook on Tort (9th ed., 2004)
10. Avtar Singh (Rev.), P.S. Atchuthen Pillai Law of Torts (9th ed., 2004)
11. Harpwood Vivienne, Modern Tort Law, Rutledge, (2008)
12. Menon N.R. Madhava, Documents and Court Opinions on Bhopal Gas Leak
Disaster Case, National Law School of Indian University, (1991)
13. Pandey Jai Narain, Law of Torts: With Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and Motor
Vehicles Act, 1988, Central Law Publication, (2002)
14. Pollock Frederick, The Law of Torts: A Treatise on the Principles of Obligations
Arising from Civil Wrongs in the Common Law: To which is Added the Draft of a
Code of Civil Wrongs Prepared for the Government of India”, Biblio Bazaar (2008)
15. P.K.Sarkar: The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Eastern Law House, Kolkata, 2006 16.
Paula Giliker & Silas Beckwith, Tort, 2ndEdn- 2004, Sweet & Maxwell, London.
17. RFV. Heuston & RA Buckly, Salmond and Heuston on Law of Torts, 20th
Edn1992, Universal Law Publishers, Delhi.
 18. Ranchhoddas Ratanlal, Thakore Dhirajlal Keshavlal and Singh Guru Prasanna,
Ratanlal&Dhirajlal'sThe Law of Torts, Wadhwa& Co, Nagpur (2008)
19. Ranchhoddas Ratanlal and Thakore Dhirajlal Keshavlal, The Law of Torts, Lexis
Nexis Butterworths Wadhwa, Nagpur (2011)
20. SP Singh & Indrajith Singh, Law of Torts, 4th Edn – 2006, Universal Law
Publishers, Delhi.
21. Salmond John William, Salmond on the Law of Torts, Sweet & Maxwell, 16th
Edition, (1973)
22. Salmond Heuston, The Law of Torts, Universal Law Publishing Co. Ltd., (2004)
23. Steele Jenny, Tort Law: Text, Cases & Materials, Oxford University Press (2007)
24. Winfield Percy Henry, Jolowicz J.A. and T. Lewis Ellis,Winfield on Tort, Sweet
and Maxwell, (1963)
25. Upadhyay Videh, Public Interest Litigation in India: Concepts, Cases and Concerns,
LexisNexis Butterworths, (2007)
26. Wahl Jenny B., Economic Analysis of Tort and Products Liability Law: A
Collection of Essays & Cases Law and Economics, Routledge, (1998)
27. White Edward, Tort Law in America: An Intellectual History, Oxford University
Press, (2003)

Must watch movies:

2. Hot Coffee documentary
3. Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain
4. One Night in Bhopal- BBC documentary
5. Bhopali
6. Sambhavna
7. The Yes Men Fix the World