20 Important Legal Maxims
- Actus reus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea — Act + guilty mind is needed.
- Ignorantia juris non excusat — Ignorance of law is not excuse.
- Res ipsa loquitur — Thing speaks for itself.
- Mens rea — Guilty mind.
- Nullum crimen sine lege — No crime without law.
- Lex posterior derogat priori — New law overrides old.
- Expressio unius est exclusio alterius — Mention one excludes others.
- In pari delicto potior est conditio possidentis — Possessor has better claim.
- De minimis non curat lex — Law ignores trifles.
- Volenti non fit injuria — Consent = No injury.
- Qui facit per alium facit per se — Act through agent = own act.
- Ubi jus ibi remedium — Right implies remedy.
- Contra proferentem — Ambiguity, against drafter.
- Stare decisis — Follow precedent.
- Fiat justitia ruat caelum — Do justice though heavens fall.
- Occam's Razor — Prefer simple explanation.
- Consensus facit legem — Contract creates law.
- Lex specialis — Special overrides general.
- Lex non cogit ad impossibilia — Law doesn't require impossible things.
- Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit — Burden of proof on claimant.
20 Important Articles
- 12 — Defines State.
- 14 — Equality.
- 15 — No discrimination.
- 19 — Freedoms.
- 21 — Life & liberty.
- 22 — Arrest safeguards.
- 32 — Supreme Court writs.
- 36–51 — DPSP.
- 39A — Legal aid.
- 44 — Uniform Civil Code.
- 226 — High Court writs.
- 245–255 — Legislative powers.
- 368 — Amend Constitution.
- 141 — SC binding law.
- 300A — Property right.
- 124 — SC judges.
- 50 — Judiciary separation.
- 352–360 — Emergencies.
- 368(4) — Amendment limits.
- 32(1) — Remedies for FR.
Plain-language study notes only — consult official law for accuracy.