📘 A to Z of Law (Simple Reference)
A – Austin → John Austin’s Command Theory (Law = command of sovereign backed by sanction).
B – Bentham → Jeremy Bentham, father of Utilitarianism, who said law should maximize happiness.
C – Constitution → The supreme law of the land; framework of government and rights.
D – Doctrine of Basic Structure → Supreme Court of India’s principle that Constitution cannot be destroyed by amendments.
E – Equity → Principles of fairness developed by Courts of Chancery in England.
F – Fundamental Rights → Basic rights guaranteed by Constitution (e.g., right to equality, freedom).
G – Grundnorm → Hans Kelsen’s theory: the basic norm or ultimate foundation of a legal system.
H – Habeas Corpus → Writ meaning “produce the body”; protects against illegal detention.
I – International Law → Rules governing relations between states (UN, treaties, etc.).
J – Justice → Ideal of fairness; Aristotle: giving each his due.
K – Kelson → Hans Kelsen’s Pure Theory of Law (law as hierarchy of norms).
L – Legislation → Law made by Parliament or legislature.
M – Mens Rea → Guilty mind; an essential element in most criminal offences.
N – Natural Law → Law based on morality, reason, nature (Cicero, Aquinas, Grotius).
O – Obiter Dicta → Judge’s observations not essential to the decision (not binding precedent).
P – Precedent → Past judicial decisions that guide future cases (stare decisis).
Q – Quasi-judicial → Authority having powers similar to courts (e.g., tribunals, commissions).
R – Ratio Decidendi → The legal reasoning or principle of a case; binding precedent.
S – Sovereignty → Supreme authority in a state (Austin’s theory, Bodin).
T – Tort → Civil wrong (negligence, defamation, nuisance, etc.) giving right to compensation.
U – Ultra Vires → “Beyond powers”; if a law/act goes beyond authority, it is void.
V – Void ab initio → Something invalid from the beginning (e.g., illegal contract).
W – Writs → Orders of higher courts (Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Certiorari, Prohibition, Quo Warranto).
X – Xenophobia → Though more social, in law → discrimination based on fear/hatred of foreigners.
Y – Youth Justice → Special legal protections for juveniles (Juvenile Justice Act).
Z – Zoning Laws → Land-use regulations (urban planning, municipal laws).
