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TORTS – PART I CLATXPERTS

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WHY YOU SHOULD STUDY THIS ?

1. HIGH QUALITY.
2. BASED ON STANDARD SOURCES
3. POSSIBILITY OF DIRECT QUESTIONS
4. COMPLETELY SYLLABUS-ORIENTED.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES ABOUT TORT : WHAT IS A TORT ? - An alien ? Nope !

It was derived from root word “ TORTUM” – meaning – wrong. Tort simply means a
deviation / civil wrong .

WHAT IS LAW OF TORT ?

Rules and conventions that deals about torts. It is uncodified legal rules, developed
using judicial precedents ( cases decided by judiciary )

IMPORTANT TERMS

 Tort feasor/ wrong doer – the person who commits the tort
 Victim – the affected person
 Plaintiff – the person who files the case
 Defendant- the person against whom the case is filled.
 Compensation- Money paid to compensate the loss caused to the victim
 Liability – responsibility to cure the wrong committed.

DEFINITION OF TORTS : ( Need not memorize but make sure you are able to choose
the correct option when asked )

1) Salmond- "Tort is civil wrong, for which remedy is a common law action for
unliquidated damages, and which is not exclusively breach of contract or breach of
trust, or other merely equitable obligations".
2) Winfield and Jolowics- " Tortous liability arise from the breach of a duty primarily
fixed by law; this duty is towards persons generally and its breach is redressible by an
action for unliquidated damages "

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3) Sir Frederick Pollock - Every tort is an act or omission (not merely the breach of a
duty arising out of a personal relation, or undertaken by contract) which causes harm
(including interference with an absolute right, whether there be measurable actual
damage or not) suffered by determinate Person .

WHAT IS REMEDY AVAILABLE IN TORT LAW ?

The tort feasor is directed to pay damages / compensation money to the victim.

WHEN A TORT IS SAID TO BE COMMITTED ?

When legal right of a person is violated – tort is said to be committed against that
person

BRANCHES OF TORT :

 Negligence – wrong committed due to lack of proper care

 Defamation- damaging reputation of a person by making false statements
 Trespass – Unauthorized entry into others possession.
 Nuisance- causing annoyance

They above are few identified torts other actions may also result in tort if they violate
legal right of a person

SHOOLS OF THOUHTS :

LAW OF TORT : According to this school of thought tort is committed when wrong is
done by a person. Recognizes general torts.

LAW OF TORTS : By this school of thought tort is committed only when the action of
the tort feasor falls under any one of the branches of specific torts viz. negligence,
defamation etc. Recognizes specific torts alone.

Tort law divides most specific torts into three general categories:

1. Intentional Torts – the causing of harm by an intentional act, such trespass,

nuisance, assault etc

2. Negligent Torts – the causing of harm through some negligent act.

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3. Strict Liability Torts – the result of harm incurred due to the actions of another,
with no fault of the defendant- but defendant made liable.

TWO IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES IN TORT :

(i) Injuria sine damno

1) Injuria - injury to legal right
2) sine -without
3) damno - damages, monetary loss.

Meaning - injury to legal right without any monetary loss. Which implies – due to the
act of tort feasor there is violation of legal right but there is no loss in money or
property.

THINK ! WHETHER ACTION CAN BE TAKEN AGAINST TORT FEASOR WHEN THERE
IS NO MONETARY LOSS ?

This is actionable, because there is violation of legal right, even though plaintiff suffer
no loss in term of money the defendant is liable.

LANDMARK CASE:

1) Ashby v/s White, 1703.

Fact ( case story )- Plaintiff was legal voter ,his name was there in voter list. Defendant
was a returning officer, i.e. incharge of election. Defendant refused the plaintiff to offer
or to tender his lawful vote to his candidate. Plaintiff sued Defendant for compensation
even though no loss is caused in term of money.

Issue ( question involved in the case ) - Whether defendant is liable.

Defense of Defendant ( defendant side argument ) : The plaintiff suffered no loss in

money. Moreover, the candidate to whom he was about to offer /tender his vote got
elected. So defendant not liable

Held ( What court said )– Defendant is liable to pay compensation because he has

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violated legal right of plaintiff to vote. Even though plaintiff suffered no actual loss in
term of money, or the candidate to whom plaintiff was interested got elected, defendant
has committed a tort and therefore liable to pay compensation.
INDIAN CASE LAW ! MUST KNOW !

Bhim Singh vs. FACTS : Plaintiff MLA was HELD : Legal right of MLA to Above
State of Jammu wrongfully prevented by attend session violated- thus principle
and Kashmir police from attending damages given (more money – applied.
assembly session. exemplary damages given.

(2) Damnum sine injuria

Meaning - damages , monetary loss, caused to the plaintiff without violation of legal
right.

THINK 1 WHETHER ACTION CAN BE TAKEN FOR MONEY LOSS OCCURRED TO THE
PLAINTIFF WITHOUT VIOLATION IN LEGAL RIGHT ?

Not actionable because no injury to legal right. Thus violation of legal right is necessary
for tort.

Mayor of Bradford v/s Pickles 1895

Facts - Corporation of Bradford was supplying water from its well. Defendant was
having adjacent land to the corporation land wherein there was well. Defendant was
willing to sell his land. He approached the mayor of corporation. Negotiations failed.

Defendant dug well in his own land .thereby cutting the underground supply of water of
corporation well this has caused a loss to corporation because there was no adequate
supply of water to the people of corporation. Plaintiff sued Defendant for damages for
malice.
Held - Defendant is not liable, because defendant's act is not wrongful as not violated
legal right or plaintiff. There is factual malice, ill will digging well in his own land does
not amount to tort.

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POINTS TO REMEMBER :

Tort= Civil Wrong

Tort law is uncodified
DEFINITION : Salmond : tort is civil wrong
Winfield and Jolowics :Tort is breach of duty primarily fixed by law
Frederick Pollock : Tort is act or omission that causes harm.
Remedy in tort is compensation/ damages
When legal right is violated tort is committed
School of thoughts : (1) Law of tort – recognizes general torts. (2) Law of torts-
recognizes specific torts alone.
Two important principles : (1) Injuria sine damno – injury without monetary loss
: it is actionable (2) Damnum sine injuria – Monetary loss without violation of
legal right.

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