LAW OF TORTS, CONSUMER PROTECTION AND MOTOR
VEHICLES ACT
PAPER-IV
NOTE:. The subject includes a comprehensive and upto date study of the Law of Torts, Consumer
Protection and Motor Vehicles Acts. The question paper shall be of 100 marks, spread over the whole
syllabus and shall comprise of nine questions in all. The candidate will be required to answer five
questions selecting at least one question from section each section in a time period of 3 hours. At least 30
% questions shall be problematic/ objective type.
Section A
1. Evolution of Law of Torts
England-forms of action- specific remedies from case to case
India – principles of justice equity and good conscience- uncodified character-advantages and
disadvantages.
2. Nature, Definition Scope & Objects
2.1. A wrongful act-violation of duty imposed by law, duty which is owed to people generally (in
rem)- damnum sine injuria and injuria sine damn.
2.2. Tort distinguished from crime and breach of contact
2.3. The concept of unliquidated damages,
2.4. Changing scope of law of torts: expanding character of duties owed to people generally due to
complexities of modern society
2.5. Objects- prescribing standards of human conduct, redressal of wrongs by payment of
compensation, proscribing unlawful conduct by injunction.
3. Principles of Liability in Torts
3.1. Fault:
3.1.1. Wrongful intent
3.1.2. Negligence
3.2. Liability without fault
3.3. Violation of ethical codes
3.4. Statutory liability
3.5. Place of motive in torts
4. Justification in Torts
4.1. Volenti non fit injuria
4.2. Necessity,
4.3. Plaintiff’s default
4.4. Act of God
4.5. Inevitable accident
4.6. Private defence
4.7. Statutory authority
5. Vicarious Liability
5.1. Basis, scope and justification
5.2. Express authorization
5.3. Ratification
5.4. Master and servant- arising out of and in the course of employment-who is master? – the control
test – who is servant? –borrowed servant – independent contractor and servant, distinguished
5.5. Principal and agent
6. Torts against persons and personal relations
6.1. assault, battery,
6.2. False imprisonment
6.3. Defamation – libel, slander including law relating to privilieges
6.4. Nervous shock
7. Negligence
7.1. Basic concepts
7.1.1. Standards of care, duty to take care, carelessness, inadvertence
7.1.2. Doctrine of contributory negligence
7.1.3. Res-ipsa loquitor and its importance in contemporary law
7.2. Liability due to negligence : different professionals
7.3. Liability of common carriers for negligence
7.4. Product liability due to negligence: liability of manufacturers and business houses for their
products
8. Absolute/Strict Liability
8.1. The rule in Rylands v. Fletcher
8.2. Liability for harm caused by inherently dangerous industries
9. Legal remedies
9.1. Legal remedies:
9.1.1. Award of damages – simple, special, punitive
9.1.2. Remoteness of damage –foreseeability and directness
Section B: Consumer Protection
1. Consumer, the concept
1.1. General perspectives
1.2. Statutory and government services : to be included or not?
1.3. Definition and scope: the consumer protection Act 1986 (CPA)
1.4. Who is not a consumer?
2. Consumer of goods
2.1. Meaning of defect in goods.
2.2. Commercial purpose of Goods
3. Service
3.1. Deficiency – meaning
3.2. Professional services
3.3. Medical Services
3.4. How to determine negligence
3.5. Violation of statute
3.6. Lawyering services:
3.7. Public utilities
3.8. Supply of electricity
3.9. Telecommunication and postal services
3.10. housing
3.11. banking
4. Commercial Services
4.1. Hiring
4.2. Financing
4.3. Agency services
5. Enforcement of consumer rights
5.1. Consumer for a under CPA: jurisdiction, powers and functions
5.2. Execution of orders
5.3. Judicial review
5.4. Class action
5.5. Remedies
Section C
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
1) General overview of the Law.
2) Right to fixed compensation-S: 140-144, on the principle of No. fault liability.
a) Normal Rule for Payment of Compensation.
b) Fault based liability.
c) Plight of claimants under the law of Torts.
d) Criticism of the system of Tort Compensation.
e) Liability of Insurer.
f) Claims Tribunals and Award of Claims Tribunal.
Leading Cases
Law of Torts:
1) Ashby V. White (1703) Ld. Raym. 938
2) Haynes V. Harwood (1935) IKB 146
3) Donoghue V. Stevenson (1932) AC 562
4) Municipal Corporaion of Delhi V. Subhagwanti AIR 1966 SC 1750.
5) In RE Polemis and Furness Withy & Co. Ltd. (1920) 2KB 560
6) Ryland V. Fletcher (1868) LR-I Ex. 265.
7) M.C. Mehta V. Union of India AIR 1987 SC. 1086.
8) Bhim Sigh V. State of J&K AIR 1986 SC 494.
9) Town Area Committee V. Prabudayal AIR 1975 All 132.
10) Kasturi Lal Ralia Ram Jain V. State of U.P AIR 1962.
11) Union Carbide of India Ltd. V. Union of India AIR 1990 SC 273.
Consumer Protection:
1) Lucknow Development Authority V. M.K. Gupta 1994 SCC 243, 252,(1994) ICPR 469 (SC)
2) Consumer Unity and Trust Society V. State of Rajasthan (1990)1. Comp.L.J.314.
3) A.C.Modagi V. Cross Well Tailor. (1991) II CPR 432 NCDRC; 1991 II CPT 586 NCDRC.
4) P.B. Khait Mazdoor Sangh V. State of West Bengal 1996 SC 2426.
5) V.P. Shanta V. Indian Medical Association AIR 1995 SC.
Motor Vehicles Act.
1) Prabhu Dhayal Agarwal V. Saraswati Bhai 1975 ACJ. 355
2) Divisional Manager L I C v. Raj Kumari Mittal 1985 ACJ 179 (DB)
3) B.P. Venkatapa V. B.L. Lakshmiah AIR 1973 Mysore 350
4) Gyarsilal V. Sitacharn AIR 1963 MP 164
5) Minu B. Mehta V. Balkrishna AIR 1977 SC 1248.
Recommended Redings:
1) Banga R.K. Law of Torts
2) Ratanlal Dhiraglal Cases on Law of Torts
3) Rogers, W.H.V. Winfield and Jolowicz on Torts.
4) Heuston R.V. F. Salmond on Law of Torts
5) Farooq Ahmad Consumer Protection Law in India (Problems & Prospects)
6) Avtar Singh Law of Consumer Protection (Principles and Practices)
7) Gurjeet Singh The Law of Consumer Protection in India (Justice within Reach)
8) Arora J C. Motor Vehicles Act With Ready Referencer.
9) Salmond and Heuston On the Law of Torts (2000)
10) D.D. Basu, The Law of Torts (1982)
11) D.M. Gandhi Law of Torts (1987)
12) P.S. Achuthan Pillai, The Law of Torts (1994)
13) Ratanlal & Dhirajlal, The Law of Torts (1997)
