Course Description

The Law of Torts is a mandatory core course prescribed by the Bar Council of India under the Rules of Legal Education, 2008. It is a foundational course in the undergraduate law programme that introduces students to the principles governing civil wrongs and the remedies available to persons who suffer harm at the hands of others. The course helps students understand how the law seeks to compensate victims and allocate responsibility for wrongful conduct. It also provides a basis for understanding related areas of law such as consumer protection, motor vehicle compensation, environmental liability, and constitutional torts.

The course is designed to familiarise students with both the traditional principles of tort law and the ways in which tortious liability continues to evolve in response to social, economic, and technological changes. Since tort law in India is largely uncodified, the course relies heavily on judicial decisions. Students are introduced to the foundational principles of tort liability through key English and Indian cases, while engaging with academic writings that offer contemporary perspectives on the subject.

The course design focuses on the core principles and major torts essential to understanding the subject, including negligence, nuisance, trespass, defamation, vicarious liability, and strict and absolute liability. The course also examines how tort principles operate within statutory frameworks such as the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. These statutes are studied not only for their practical significance but also to understand how legislative intervention has modified or supplemented traditional tort law principles.

The teaching methodology combines lectures with interactive classroom discussions. Classes are conducted through a mixture of explanation, case analysis, and Socratic questioning. Students are expected to read the prescribed materials before class so that discussions can build on their understanding. Hypothetical problems and case-based discussions are regularly used to help students apply legal principles to factual situations and develop analytical skills. Group discussions and student participation are encouraged wherever appropriate.

The course begins with an introduction to the nature, scope, and functions of tort law, followed by a discussion of the general principles of liability. Students are then introduced to specific torts affecting persons and property, along with the available defences. The course subsequently examines special forms of liability, including strict and absolute liability, before moving to statutory applications under consumer protection and motor vehicle laws. This structure allows students to develop a clear understanding of both the theoretical foundations and practical operation of tort law.