SYLLABUS

FAMILY LAW I – 4 CREDITS

I. Introduction- Family Law- significance of family and need to regulate- concept, scope and
application of personal laws in India-peculiarity of family law- Sources of personal laws-
ancient and modern sources of Hindu law- Schools of Hindu Law; Sources of Muslim law
Schools of Muslim Law; Concept of marriage under different religions -forms of
marriages- Conversion and application of personal laws; Ancient forms of marriage -
Polyandry, polygamy-Ceremonies of marriage - Registration of marriage; Dowry and
Dower -Evolution as a custom- Sociological aspects - Law relating to dower; Introduction
to Christian law -, Sub-sections of the community and canon law in general, Overview of
the legislations, concept of marriage - Procedural formalities or ceremonies related to
marriages different religions.
II. Matrimonial Remedies - Nullity of marriage-Valid, Voidable, and void marriages,
Capacity to marry – Requirements- customary and legislative, Child marriage –prohibition-
legal implications, Irregular marriages under Muslim law, Legitimacy of children –
presumption of legitimacy- legitimacy of children in void and voidable marriages –
acknowledgement of legitimacy under Muslim law - Restitution of conjugal rights-
Legislative provisions – constitutionality- Judicial separation, Dissolution of Marriage -
Difference between Judicial separation and Divorce -Theories of divorce. - Grounds of
divorce and judicial separation under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the Indian Divorce
Act, 1860; the Special Marriage Act, 1954, procedural formalities under Special Marriage
Act, 1954- Talaq under Muslim Law - Grounds of divorce available for Muslim women-
under the customary law and legislation; Bar to matrimonial remedies
III. Alimony and Maintenance -Maintenance of neglected wives - divorced wives -minor
children - disabled children - parents who are unable to support themselves- Provisions
under the Hindu marriage Act; the Indian Divorce Act, 1860 and the Special Marriage Act,
1954 - Provisions under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act,1956 - Provisions under
the Code of Criminal Procedure -Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens
Act, 2007 – Maintenance under Muslim customary law - Muslim Women (Protection of
Rights on Divorce)Act, 1986; Custody of children - Provisions under the Hindu Marriage
Act, 1955; the Divorce Act, 1869 and the Special Marriage Act, 1954 - Provisions under
the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 - Muslim law relating to custody;
 Adoption and Guardianship - Provisions under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act,
1956 - Provisions under the Juvenile Justice Act, Inter-country adoption- Guidelines -
Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) - Other Rules and Regulations dealing with
adoption – need for reforms, The Guardians and Wards Act, 1890.
IV. Domestic Violence - Sociological and psychological aspects - Protection of Women from
Domestic Violence Act, 2005; Procedure for filing a complaint- authorities under the Act-
reliefs and remedies- Dispute Resolution - Family Courts Act – scope and relevance,
salient features - Lok Adalat; Family and changing patterns –comparative perspective
Working women – role played in the family, Composition of family, Parental role.
V. Same sex marriage, Civil partnership and live-in relationships – presumption of marriage,
Surrogacy and Assisted Reproductive Technologies- concept of guardianship – custody –
legitimacy of the child - rights of the child; Reforms in family law- Comparative analysis
of different personal laws, Legislative interventions – amendments, Need for legislative
interventions – law commission recommendations, Judicial trend, Uniform Civil Code.

LAW OF SPECIAL CONTRACTS – 4 CREDITS

I. Indian Contract Act, 1872; a. Indemnity:(Ss. 124-125) - Definition of Indemnity - Nature and
extent of liability of the indemnifier - Commencement of liability of the indemnifier; b.
Guarantee:(Ss. 126-147) - Definition of guarantee: as distinguished from indemnity -Basic
essentials for a valid guarantee contract - Continuing guarantee - Nature of surety's liability-
duration and termination of such liability - Rights of surety - Extent of surety's liability -
Discharge of surety's liability; c. Bailment:(Ss. 148- 171) - Definition of bailment - Kinds of
bailees - Duties of Bailor and Bailee towards each other - Rights of bailor and bailee; d.
Pledge:(Ss. 172-179) - Pledge: comparison with bailment - Definition of pledge under the
Indian Contract Act - Rights of the pawner and pawnee - Pawnee’s right of sale as compared
to that of an ordinary bailee - Pledge by certain specified persons mentioned in the Indian
Contract Act; e. Agency:(Ss. 182-238) - ‘Agent’ and ‘Principal’ defined - Who may employ
an agent-who may be appointed as agent - Kinds of agents and agencies- essentials of a
agency transaction - Distinction between agent and servant - Various methods of creation of
agency - Rights, duties and liabilities of principal and agent- scope and limitation -
Delegation-ratification and revocation of authority - Methods of termination of agency
contract - Liability of the principal and agent before and after such termination.
II. The Sale of Goods Act, 1930; a. General: Formation of Contracts of Sale(Ss. 1-10) - Concept
of ‘Goods’ - ‘Sale’ and ‘Agreement to sell’ - Statutory Transactions - Contract for ‘Works’/
‘Labour’; b. Conditions and Warranties(Ss. 11-17, 62, 63) - Stipulations as to time - Implied
Conditions and Warranties – as to title, quality, fitness, etc. - Sale by Description and by
Sample - Treating conditions as warranties - Doctrine of Caveat Emptor; c. Effects of the
Contract (Ss8-30) - Transfer of property - Doctrine of Nemo dat quod non habet; d. Sale :by a
person other than the owner - by joint owner - by mercantile agent - by seller or buyer in
possession after sale under voidable contract - in Market Overt; e. Performance of the
Contract(Ss. 31-44) - Duties of seller and buyer - Rules relating to delivery of goods; f.
Rights of Unpaid 20 Seller(Ss. 45-54) - Who is an un-paid seller? - Un-paid Seller’sRights –
Right of lien - Right of stoppage in transit - Transfer of goods by buyer and seller; g. Suit for
Breach of Contract(Ss8-30) - for price - non-delivery - non-acceptance -damages for breach
of conditions and warranties; h. Repudiation of contract; i. Payment of damages and special
damages; j. Auction Sale(S. 64).

III. The Indian Partnership Act, 1932; a. Nature of Partnership(Ss. 4-8) - Definition of
“partnership”, “partner”, “firm” and “firm name” (S. 4) - Partnership not created by status (S.
5) - Mode of determining existence of partnership (S. 6) - Partnership at will (S.7) - Particular
partnership (S.8); b. Partnership and private limited company- Advantages & disadvantages;
c. Relations of Partners to one Another (Ss. 9-17); d. Relations of Partners to Third
Parties(Ss. 18-30); e. Incoming and Outgoing Partners(Ss. 31-38); f. Dissolution of
Firm(Ss.39-55); g. Registration of Firms(Ss. 56 71).

IV. The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008; a. Concept and nature of Unlimited Liability
Partnerships- Distinction between a partnership, a limited liability partnership and a company
- Incorporation of LLPs - Effect of registration; b. Partners and their relations; c. Liability of
LLPs and its partners; d. Holding out; e. Protection to whistle blowers; f. Investigation
V. The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881; a. Definition – negotiable instrument - negotiation –
holder – holder in due course – billof exchange – cheque – promissory note – choate and
inchoate – acceptance – dishonor – noting – protesting; b. Material Alteration; c. Offences
and Punishments– procedure in case of bouncing of cheques.
 LAW OF PROPERTY – 4 CREDITS
I. Concept of property – Ownership and possession - jurisprudential basis-different types of
property- applicability of the Transfer of Property Act– exemptions – transfer by operation of
law - definition of movable and immovable property – profits a prendre - instrument - notice
and attestation- definition of transfer of property – future property - conditions of valid
transfer-transferability of property- oral transfer - effect of transfer – registration of
documents – Adverse possession.

II. Rule against inalienability – restrictions on enjoyment-transfer in favour of unborn person-

rule against perpetuity-doctrine of accumulation-vested and contingent interest condition
precedent and condition subsequent - Doctrine of election- apportionment Transfer of
property by ostensible owners – Benami Transactions - Transfer by limited owners–
Fraudulent Transfers –Lis pendens - Part performance.

III. Sale and Exchange – Condition for valid sale – sale and agreement to sell – Rights and
liabilities of sellers and buyers – Mortgage – kinds of mortgages – charge – rights and
liabilities of mortgagor and mortgagee – doctrine of priority – redemption and foreclosure –
subrogation – tacking – contribution – marshalling.

IV. Lease – conditions for valid lease – lease and license – rights and liabilities of lessor and
lessee – determination of lease- Gift – conditions for valid gifts – universal donee – onerous
gifts - actionable claim – transfer of actionable claim.

V. Concept and definition of easement – Characteristics of easement – Dominant and servient

heritage – easement and licence – easement and profits a prendre - classification of easement
– imposition of easement – disturbance of easement – suspension and extinction of easement
– remedies for disturbance of easement – licence.

VI. Spec successionis

attestation
doctrine of election
marshalling
usufructuary mortgage
immovable property
types of easement
actionable claim
subrogation
contingent interest
conditional transfer
holding out
lis pendens
vested interest
onerous gift
clog on redemption
unpaid vendor's charge
ostensible owner
fraudulent transfer
constructive notice
determination of lease
universal donee
equitable mortgage
part performance
registration of lease deed
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
1. Salient features of the Indian Constitution - Separation and Balance of Powers – Rule of
Law – Preamble of the Constitution – forms of government – parliamentary and presidential -
Nature and essential features – Concept of federalism – essential features of federal
government – Indian federalism –Parliamentary power to cede Indian Territory (Art. 1 – 4) –
citizenship
2. Distribution of power between Centre and States – Legislative powers (Art. 245-255) –
Administrative powers (Art. 256-263) – Fiscal powers (Art. 268-291) – free trade and
commerce – Commerce clause and federalism (Art. 301-307)
3. Composition and terms of Houses of Parliament and State Legislatures – Officers of
Parliament and legislatures - Powers and privileges of Parliament and legislatures – Anti
defection
4. Cabinet form of Government – Collective responsibility of cabinet – Election, removal
and powers of President and Vice President – Appointment and powers of Governors –
Ordinance making power - pardoning powers - Executive, Union and State – Other
constitutional authorities - emergency provisions and federal structure – Services under the
Constitution – Doctrine of pleasure – Protection of Civil Servants.
5. Judiciary – status under the Constitution –jurisdiction - relationship with other organs –
independence – appointment, tenure, removal of Judges – higher & lower judiciary –
accountability.

JURISPRUDENCE
I. Constitutional Law of India Constitution of India Shorter Constitution of India Indian
Constitutional Law Federal Government The Law of the Constitution Centre-State Relations
in India Introduction- Jurisprudence - Need for study – Definitions- Relation with other
Knowledge – Law – Definition- Purpose and Kinds of Law – Theories of Law and Justice;
Justice –Concept and Kinds- Administration of Justice – Purpose Essentials of Criminal and
Civil Justice-Theories of Punishment.
II. Sources of Law — Legal and Historical Sources — Legislation - Definition of
legislation - Classification of legislation- Supreme and Subordinate Legislation - Direct and
Indirect Legislation - Principles of Statutory Interpretation. Precedent 23 — Definition of
Precedent — Kinds of Precedent - Original and Declaratory Precedents - Authoritative and
Persuasive Precedents - Stare Decisis and its exceptions; Custom – Definition of Custom –
 Kinds of Custom – General and Local Custom – Custom and Prescription - Requisites of a
valid custom; Relative merits and demerits of Legislation, Precedent and Custom as sources
of Law; Codification — Advantages and Disadvantages
III. III. Theories and Schools - Natural Law and Positive Law – Historical, Economic,
Sociological Approaches, Legal Realism and Modern Legal Theory- Critical Jurisprudence
IV. IV. Legal Concepts - Persons, Right, Property, Ownership, Possession, Obligation,
Liability and Title. V. Constitution and Socio-Economic Philosophy - New Developments -
Law and Social Change.

DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS

I. Statistics- Definition, origin and growth, functions, application, Limitation- Statistical

survey- data collection- Census and Sample investigation-sample and sample designs-
Classification and tabulation of representation of data- Frequency distribution. data-
diagrammatic and graphic
II. Average and other measures of location- Measures of dispersion- Skewness, Moments and
Kurtosis- Correlation analysis- Regression, methods of least squares- Simple curve fitting.
III. Association of Attributes- Index Numbers: Problems in the construction of index numbers,
Uses, test of adequacy of index numbers, Fixed and Chain base index numbers and
Consumer Price index.
IV. Analysis of Time series- Components, Utility, measurement of trend, seasonal Variation,
cyclical fluctuation and irregular variations V. Vital Statistics- uses, methods of obtaining
vital statistics, measurement of fertility and mortality, various rates and Life tables.