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Friday, January 16, 2026
English for Legal Language: Course Detail
1. Need and Importance of
Legal Language
· Legal language ensures clarity, precision, and certainty
in law.
· It helps in drafting statutes, contracts, pleadings, and
judgments.
· Prevents ambiguity and misinterpretation of legal rights
and duties.
· Maintains uniformity and consistency in legal
communication.
· Essential for effective advocacy and legal reasoning.
· Helps lawyers, judges, and litigants understand the exact
legal intent.
2. Proficiency in General
English
(a) Parts and Types of Sentences
· Parts of a sentence:
o Subject – what the sentence
is about.
o Predicate – what is said
about the subject?
· Types of sentences:
o Declarative – states a fact.
o Interrogative – asks a
question.
o Imperative – gives a command
or request.
o Exclamatory – expresses
strong emotion.
· Important for clear legal writing and arguments.
(b) Parts of Speech – A Brief
Introduction
· Noun – names a person, place, or thing.
· Pronoun – replaces a noun.
· Verb – shows action or state of being.
· Adjective – describes a noun.
· Adverb – modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb.
· Preposition – shows relationship between words.
· Conjunction – joins words or sentences.
· Interjection – expresses emotion.
· Correct usage avoids confusion in legal drafting.
(c) Tenses: Forms and Use
· Present Tense – shows current or habitual actions.
· Past Tense – shows completed actions.
· Future Tense – shows actions yet to occur.
· Each tense has simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect
continuous
forms.
· Correct tense usage ensures accurate narration of facts in
cases.
(d) Active and Passive Voice
· Active Voice – subject performs the action.
o Example: The court delivered
the judgment.
· Passive Voice – subject receives the action.
o Example: The judgment was
delivered by the court.
· Passive voice is commonly used in legal documents for
formality.
(e) Direct and Indirect
(Reported) Speech
· Direct Speech – exact words of the speaker.
· Indirect Speech – reported version without quotation
marks.
· Requires change in tense, pronouns, and adverbs.
· Widely used in judgments and witness statements.
(f) Some Common Mistakes in
English
· Wrong tense usage.
· Subject-verb disagreement.
· Incorrect prepositions.
· Misuse of articles (a, an, the).
· Spelling and punctuation errors.
· Such mistakes can change legal meaning.
3. Legal Vocabulary and
Research Skills
(a) Legal Terminology, Foreign
Words, Legal Maxims
· Legal terms have specific meanings.
· Many terms are borrowed from Latin, French, and English
law.
· Legal maxims express general principles of law.
· Example: Audi alteram partem – hear the other side.
(b) Synonyms, Antonyms,
Homonyms, One-Word Substitution
· Synonyms – words with similar meaning.
· Antonyms – words with opposite meaning.
· Homonyms – words with same sound but different meanings.
· One-word substitution makes writing precise and concise.
(c) Consulting a Dictionary
· Helps understand meaning, pronunciation, and usage.
· Legal dictionaries explain technical legal terms.
· Important for accurate drafting and interpretation.
(d) Preparation of Bibliography
· Bibliography lists books, journals, cases, and websites
used.
· Shows research credibility and authenticity.
· Follows a standard citation format.
(e) Abbreviations in Legal
Writing
· Common abbreviations used in footnotes and citations.
· Includes abbreviations for Indian and foreign law reports.
· Saves space and ensures uniform legal referencing.
4. Writing of Case Comment
(a) Structure of a Reported
Case
· Case title.
· Court name and judge(s).
· Facts of the case.
· Issues involved.
· Arguments of parties.
· Judgment and reasoning.
· Found in journals like AIR, SCC, SCALE, JT.
(b) Doctrine of Precedent –
General Introduction
· Based on the principle of stare decisis.
· Ensures consistency and predictability in law.
(i) Precedent as a Source of
Law
· Ratio Decidendi – binding legal principle.
· Obiter Dictum – persuasive but not binding.
(ii) Circumstances Weakening a
Precedent
· Overruled by higher court.
· Decision given per incuriam.
· Change in law or statute.
(iii) Circumstances Increasing
Authority of Precedent
· Decision by higher court.
· Repeated approval by courts.
· Clear and well-reasoned judgment.
(c) Method of Writing a Case
Comment
· Brief introduction of the case.
· Facts and legal issues.
· Court’s reasoning and decision.
· Critical analysis.
· Conclusion and significance.
5. Translation (Legal Topics)
· Translation from English to Hindi and Hindi to English.
· Requires knowledge of legal terminology in both languages.
· Meaning must be preserved accurately.
· Avoids literal translation that changes legal sense.
6. Comprehension of Legal Text
· Understanding statutes, judgments, and legal documents.
· Identifying key issues and legal principles.
· Requires strong vocabulary and grammar skills.
· Essential for legal interpretation and analysis.
7. Essay Writing on Legal
Topics
· Requires logical structure and clarity.
· Includes introduction, body, and conclusion.
· Uses legal reasoning, examples, and case laws.
· Reflects critical thinking and legal knowledge.
8. Formal Legal Correspondence
and Letter Writing
· Includes notices, applications, and official letters.
· Follows formal tone and standard format.
· Clear, concise, and legally accurate language.
· Important for professional legal communication.
Friday, November 21, 2025
LIMITATION ACT, 1963 — IMPORTANT CONCEPTS & SECTIONS
1.
Limitation of Suits, Appeals and Applications
Sections 3 –
11
- Section 3 – Bar of Limitation
Any suit, appeal or application filed after the prescribed limitation period shall be dismissed, even if limitation is not pleaded. - Section 4 – Expiry when courthouse closed
If limitation expires on a day when the court is closed, filing may be done on the next working day. - Section 5 – Extension of prescribed period for appeals/applications
Delay may be condoned if sufficient cause is shown (NOT applicable to suits). - Section 6–8 – Legal disability
Deals with minors, insane or disabled persons and extension of limitation. - Section 9 – Continuous running of time
Once time begins to run, it runs continuously unless stopped by a disability or statute. - Section 10 – Suits against trustees
No limitation for suits for trust property. - Section 11 – Suits on foreign contracts
If foreign law prescribes a shorter limitation, that applies.
2. Period of
Limitation
Sections 12
– 24; Schedule I
- The period of limitation for all suits, appeals, and applications
is prescribed in the Schedule (varies case by case).
- Section 12 –
Exclusion of time for obtaining copies of decrees/orders.
- Section 13 –
Exclusion when leave to sue or appeal as pauper is applied.
- Section 14 –
Exclusion of time spent in proceedings prosecuted in good faith before a
defective jurisdiction.
- Section 15 –
Exclusion of time when institution is stayed by injunction or order.
- Section 16 –
Effect of death on the right to sue.
- Section 17 –
Effect of fraud or mistake.
- Section 18 –
Acknowledgment in writing (fresh limitation).
- Section 19 –
Part-payment acknowledges debt.
- Section 20 –
Acknowledgment by agent.
- Section 21 –
Adding or substituting parties.
- Section 22 –
Continuing breaches and torts.
- Section 24 – Case
of set-off or counterclaim.
3.
Continuous Running of Time
Section 9
- Once limitation begins, it runs continuously.
- It is not suspended by events like change of ownership,
insolvency, etc.
- Time stops only if statute provides (e.g., legal disability).
4. Effect of
Sufficient Cause (Condonation of Delay)
Section 5
- Delay in appeals and applications may be condoned if the
applicant shows sufficient cause.
- Does NOT apply to suits.
- Court has discretionary power.
5. Legal
Disability
Sections 6,
7 & 8
- Section 6 – If the person entitled to sue/appeal/apply
is a minor, insane, or idiot, the limitation begins when disability
ceases.
- Section 7 – If several persons jointly entitled, time
begins when one is free from disability.
- Section 8 – Maximum extension = 3 years even
after disability ceases.
6.
Computation of Period of Limitation
Sections 12
– 24
Important provisions:
- Section 12 –
Excludes time required to obtain certified copies.
- Sections 14 & 15 –
Excludes time spent in wrong courts or when suit stayed.
- Sections 16–20 –
Effects of death, fraud, acknowledgement, etc.
- Section 22 –
Continuing breaches: fresh limitation every day.
7. Execution
of Decrees / Limitation in Execution
Articles
135–137 (Schedule I); Section 3
- Execution of a decree must be filed within the period in the Schedule
(usually 12 years for decree of immovable property; 3 years
for others).
- Governed by Section 3 which bars delayed applications.
8. Effect of
Death
Section 16
- If the person dies before the right to sue accrues, limitation
starts when there is a legal representative.
- If death occurs after right accrues, normal limitation applies.
9. Fraud or
Mistake
Section 17
- If a suit/appeal/application is based on:
- fraud,
- concealment, or
- mistake,
the limitation begins from the date when: - fraud is discovered, or
- mistake becomes known.
10.
Acknowledgment in Writing
Section 18
- A written and signed acknowledgment made before expiry of
limitation resets the limitation period.
- Must be clear and made to the creditor/claimant.
11.
Part-Payment / Acknowledgement via Payment
Section 19
- Part-payment of debt or interest, before limitation expires, starts
a new limitation period.
- Must be acknowledged in the handwriting or signed by debtor or
agent.
12.
Acquisition of Ownership by Possession
Section 27
- At the expiry of the limitation period for recovering possession of
property (usually 12 years), the right of the original owner gets
extinguished.
- This is the legal basis of adverse possession.
Summary Table (Topic → Section)
|
Topic |
Sections |
|
Limitation of suits, appeals, applications |
3–11 |
|
Period of Limitation |
Schedule I, Sections 12–24 |
|
Continuous running of time |
9 |
|
Sufficient cause for delay |
5 |
|
Legal disability |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Computation of limitation |
12–24 |
|
Execution of decrees |
Articles 135–137 (Schedule), Section 3 |
|
Effect of death |
16 |
|
Fraud / mistake |
17 |
|
Acknowledgement in writing |
18 |
|
Part-payment |
19 |
|
Acquisition by possession (adverse possession) |
27 |

