PUBLIC

INTERNATIONAL LAW
COURSE OUTLINE
SEMESTER- XII
JANUARY-APRIL 2017
Let us figure out as to what are we
going to talk about in the coming
months….
 UNIT- I

THE FOUNDATIONS OF
INTERNATIONAL LAW
 Some pertinent aspects to be
appreciated…
• Nature & History of International Law
• Concept and Definition of Public International
Law
• The Basis & Legal Force of International Law
• The main legal features of International Law
• States as the normal subjects of International Law
 UNIT- II

THE SOURCES OF
INTERNATIONAL LAW
 Drawing from the foundational
principles….
• Meaning of ‘source’ of law & sources of international law
• Formation of Rules of International Law
• Ius Cogens / Obligations Erga omnes
Customs
Treaties
General Principles of Law
Decisions of Tribunals
Writings of Authors

• Relation between International Law & Municipal Law

 UNIT- III

- STATES -

TERRITORY
&
JURISDICTION
 The discourse on States
A.) The Concept of Territory in
International Law
• Territorial Sovereignty
• Legal or Historic Title, Boundaries
• Self Determination
• Succession of States & Recognition of States
 The discourse on States
B.) Jurisdiction
• The Principle of Domestic Jurisdiction
• Criminal Jurisdiction
• Extradition, Asylum
• Extra-territorial Jurisdiction
• Immunities from Jurisdiction
 UNIT- IV

LAW OF THE SEA

 The Sea & Legal Arrangements
• The territorial sea
• International straits
• The Contiguous Zone, the Exclusive Economic
Zone, The Continental Shelf
• The High Seas
• The 1982 Law of the Sea Convention
• Settlement of Disputes
 UNIT- V

LAW OF TREATIES
 Pacts & Promises
• Understanding the term “International Treaties”
• Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
(VCLT), 1969
• Classification and Formation of Treaties
• Invalidity of Treaties & its consequences
• Termination or suspension of the operation of a
Treaty
• Some maxims- Pacta sunt Servanda, Rebus sic
Stantibus
 UNIT- VI

USE OF FORCE &

RESPONSIBILITY OF
STATES
 ‘PEACE’ as the Supreme
International Goal
• The use or threat of force by states
• The General Treaty for the Renunciation of
War
• Legal Regime of the UN Charter
• Anticipatory Self Defence and the provisions
of the Charter
• Evolution of the concept with the enlarged
form of terrorism
 UNIT- VII

PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF
DISPUTES
&
THE INTERNATIONAL COURT
OF JUSTICE
 Dispute Settlement
• Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes
• The Permanent Court of International Justice
and the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
• Composition, Powers & Functions of the Court
• Law Applied to the ICJ
• Binding Force of the decisions of the ICJ
• Main Heads of Court’s Jurisdiction
All the very best…!!!