UPSC Mains LAW-PAPER-II 2012

Answer the following. (Answer to each part must not exceed 150 words.) Support your answer with the help of legal provisions and decided cases : (a) "Culpable homicide is the genus and murder is species, and that all murders are culpable homicide but not vice versa." Discuss in the light of legal provisions and some decided cases.

Answer the following. (Answer to each part must not exceed 150 words.) Support your answer with the help of legal provisions and decided cases : (b) "The recent Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2011 seeks to replace 'rape' by the term 'sexual assault' in the IPC and intends to make rape a gender-neutral offence in the country." Examine whether this is appropriate.

Answer the following. (Answer to each part must not exceed 150 words.) Support your answer with the help of legal provisions and decided cases : (c) "The expression 'good faith' has a definite identity in the Indian Penal Code." Discuss.

Answer the following. (Answer to each part must not exceed 150 words.) Support your answer with the help of legal provisions and decided cases : The defendant had been carrying cargo in a lorry for the plaintiff. On the way there was heavy rainfall. The cargo was damaged by seepage due to rainwater rising from below, while it had been securely protected by the defendant by tarpaulin from above. The flash flood on the highway had stranded hundreds of lorries including that of the defendant, and the water level on the highway rose above tyres and up to the level of the platform which resulted in the seepage. However, the plaintiff claimed heavy damages from the defendant on the ground of negligence or want of due care. Discuss whether the defendant can have any defence in this case.

Answer the following. (Answer to each part must not exceed 150 words.) Support your answer with the help of legal provisions and decided cases : (e) "The principle of 'res ipsa loquitur' is an exception to the rule that it is for the plaintiff to prove negligence of the defendant." Discuss with reference to some cases.

Explain the essentials of malicious prosecution. What are the grounds on which plaintiff can claim damages?

Mr. X himself was driving a car and when he was passing through a railway level crossing, his car was hit by a mail train. The car was smashed and Mr. X was seriously injured, and died in hospital. In an action by the widow against the Union of India, as owner of the Railway, it was contended that the level crossing was unmanned and the gates were open. This constituted negligence on the part of the Railway. Further it was contended that there was no contributory negligence on the part of Mr. X, the deceased, as he could not have a look at the railway line from a distance as his view was obstructed by some trees, etc., nor could he hear the sound of the coming mail train while he was in the car with the engine running and the windscreen closed. Decide the case giving your reasons.

It is possible to support an action for nuisance as well as of negligence on the same set of facts, however, there are certain points of distinction between the two." Discuss.

The accused (appellant) was separated from his wife. She was living with her father. The accused was keeping their youngest child with someone else. During the noon of a day, his wife took away the child from that someone. The accused, on hearing this, reached his father-in-law's place and quarrelled. Later in the evening of the same day, the accused and his father-in-law happened to meet at a marketplace. They again quarrelled, grappled with each other. Both fell down. In the heat of passion thus generated, the accused stabbed his father-in-law and he died. Discuss in the light of legal provisions whether the accused would have any lawful defence in this case.

The plaintiff was insured with the defendant against loss by theft. The plaintiff advertised a watch and a ring for sale and in response, he received a telephone call from someone who expressed interest. He called, agreed to pay the asked price and made payment by a building society cheque and took delivery of the items. The cheque was dishonoured. For the articles so lost, a claim was presented to the insurer under the theft policy. The insurer refused to pay anything. Explain the rights, if any, available to the plaintiff under the circumstances.

There may be an element of abetment in a conspiracy but conspiracy is something more than an abetment." Discuss with illustrations.

The accused, one of the two joint owners of a shop, put her lock on the shop which was let out by another joint owner without her consent. The tenant charged the accused with the offence of wrongful restraint in that he was prevented by the lock from entering into the shop. Discuss in the light of legal provisions whether the accused has committed the offence of wrongful restraint.

A contractor was given cement for construction work by the Minor Irrigation Department of a State Government under a specific agreement that he would return unused cement but instead of doing so, he sold the cement to outsiders. Mentioning relevant legal provision, discuss what offence, if any, is committed by the contractor.