Course Description

This is an advanced interdisciplinary course on commercial law that situates doctrinal areas viz. contracts, companies, insolvency, securities, banking, consumer protection and competition within broader questions of markets, regulation, governance, constitutionalism and political economy. Moving beyond a purely doctrinal study, the course examines how legal institutions structure markets, allocate economic power, facilitate enterprise and mediate tensions between private autonomy and public regulation.

The course begins by introducing foundational questions concerning the nature of commercial law, the legal construction of markets and capital and the relationship between enterprise and individual freedom. It then studies core principles of contract and commercial transactions, including agency and sale of goods, before examining the evolution of corporate law, theories of the company, corporate governance, stakeholder interests, minority protection and disputes within closely held and large corporations.

Subsequent modules engage with contemporary developments in insolvency and restructuring under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, securities market regulation, banking and finance, and emerging challenges in consumer and competition law, especially in digital and data-driven markets. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on Indian legal developments while drawing comparative insights from English law and global scholarship.

The course combines theoretical readings, judicial decisions, regulatory materials and policy debates to encourage critical engagement with commercial law.