Law of Crimes Paper-I

Course Code: SLL 1703 Credits: 04

LTP: 400

Course Objective:
Society needs an efficient and effective system of criminal law to maintain law & order, as also to
protect the life, liberty and property of its citizens. The importance of criminal law thus lies in its
power and potential to protect the individuals and institutions against injuries that can be inflicted by
other human conduct. Law is undoubtedly an instrument of social control. Criminal law defines
crimes and lays down the rights duties and liabilities. The purpose of criminal law is not only to
effectively punish the violators but also to deter the potential violators from criminal conduct.
Criminal law can neither be weak nor harsh and arbitrary. The course will focus on general principles
of criminal liability with specific reference to the Indian Penal Code. The course has been designed to
foster critical thinking among the students and empower them to scrutinize the recent developments in
the field of substantive criminal law.

Course Content:
UNIT I:
General Principles of Criminal Liability
Nature, Concept and definition of Crime. Introduction to Indian Penal Code- Jurisdiction -
Definitions and General Explanations- Punishment - elements of criminal liability- actus reus
and mens rea- statutory offences - stages of crime- joint liability- common intention and
common object- vicarious liability- corporate liability - abetment and criminal conspiracy.
General Exceptions, Definition, Constructive joint liability, Mistake, Judicial and Executive
acts, Accident, Necessity, Infancy, Insanity, Intoxication, Consent, Good faith, Private
defence. Attempt - Stage of a crime - Intention, Preparation, Attempt, Commission -
Essentials of the attempt, impossible attempt, attempt and preparation distinguished.

1. State of Maharashtra v. Mayor Hans George (1965) 1 SCR 123

2. State of M.P.v. Narayan Singh, (1989) 3 SCC 596
3. Sherras v. De Rutzen(1895) 1 QB 918
4. Fowler v.Padget (1789) 7 T.R.514
5. State of Orissa v. K Rajeshwar Rao, AIR 1992 SC 240
Group Liability:
6. Chittarmal v. State of Rajasthan 2003 Cri LJ 889(S.C.)
7. Suresh v. State of U.P. 2001 Cri LJ 1462 (S.C.)
8. Mahbub Shah v. Emperor, AIR 1945 PC 118
9. Pandurang v. State of Hyderabad (1955) 1 SCR 1083: AIR 1955 SC 216
10. Maina Singh v. State of Rajasthan, AIR 1976 SC 1084
11. Mizaji v. State of U.P. AIR 1959 SC 572
12. Chandra Bihari Gautam v. State of Bihar (2002) 9 SCC 208
Attempt:
13. Ashgar Pradhania v. Emperor, AIR 1933 Cal 893
14. Abhayanand Mishra v. State of Bihar AIR 1961 SC 1698
15. Om Prakash v. State of Punjab, (1962) 2 SCR 254: AIR 1961 SC 1782
16. State of Maharashtra v. Mohd. Yakub (1980) 3 SCC57
17. Gian Kaur v. State of Punjab, (1996) 2 SCC 648
General exceptions:
Miatake:
18. State of Orissa v. Ram Bahadur Thapa, AIR 1960 Ori.161
19. State of Orissa v. Bhagaban Barik (1987) 2 SCC 498
Private Defence:
20. State of U.P. v. Ram Swarup (1974) 4 SCC 764:AIR 1974 SC 1570
21. Deo Narain v. State of U.P. (1973) 1 SCC 347: AIR 1973 SC 473
22. Krishan v. State of M.P., AIR 1974 SC 244
23. Mahabir Choudhary v. State of Bihar (1996) 5 SCC 107
24. James Martin v. State of Kerala (2004) 2 SCC 203
Unsoundness of mind and Intoxication:
25. Queen Empress v. Kader Nasyer Shah (1860) ILR 23 Cal 604
26. Lakshmi v. state AIR 1959 ALL 534
27. Shrikant Anandrao Bhosale v. State of Maharastra (2002) 7 SCC 748
28. Basdev v.State of PEPSU (1956) SCR 363: AIR 1956 SC 488

UNIT II:
Offences affecting Human Body
Offences affecting human body-culpable homicide-murder-suicide - dowry death- causing
miscarriage – injuries to unborn children-exposure of infants and concealment of births-hurt,
wrongful restraint and wrongful confinement-criminal force and assault- kidnapping,
abduction.
Culpable Homicide & Murder
29. Palani Goundan v. Emperor (1919) ILR 547 (Mad)
30. In Re Thavamani AIR 1943 Mad. 571
31. Emperor v. Mushnooru Suryanarayana Murthy (1912) MLJR 333 (Mad.)
32. Rawalpenta Venkalu v. State of Hyderabad AIR 1956 SC 171
33. Kapur Singh v. State of PEPSU AIR 1956 SC 654
34. Virsa Singh v. State of Punjab AIR 1958 SC 465
35. State of A.P.v. Rayavarapu Punnayya AIR 1977 SC 45
36. Bhagwan Dass v. State (NCT of Delhi) (2011) 6 SCC 396
37. Emperor v. Mt. Dhirajia AIR 1940 All. 486
38. Gyarsibai v. The State AIR 1953 M.B. 61
Exceptions to section 300
39. K. M. Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra AIR 1962 SC 605
Extracts from Defences for Battered Women who Kill
1.THE BACKGROUND
2. PROVOCATION
3.DIMINISHED RESPONSIBILITY
40. Ghapoo Yadav v. State of M.P. (2003) 3 SCC 528
Hurt & grievous hurt
41. Rambaran Mahton v. The State AIR 1958 Pat 452
42. E. K. Chandrasenan v. State of Kerala (1995) 2 SCC 99
Homicide by rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide:
43. Cherubin Gregory v. State of Bihar AIR 1964 SC 205
44. S.N. Hussain v. State of A.P. AIR 1972 SC 685
45. Mohammed Aynuddin v. State of Andhra Pradesh (2000) 7 SCC 72
Dowry death:
46. Shanti (Smt.) v. State of Haryana AIR 1991 SC 1226
47. Satvir Singh v. State of Punjab (2001) 8 SCC 633
 48. Ram Badan Sharma v. State of Bihar (2006) 10 SCC 115
Kidnapping & Abduction:
49. S. Varadarajan v. State of Madras AIR 1965 SC 942
50. Thakorlal D. Vadgama v. State of Gujarat AIR 1973 SC 2313
51. State of Haryana v. Raja Ram (1973) 1SCC 544
52. Satvinder Singh v. The State 2011(2) JCC 1175
53. Sunil Kumar Sharma v. State (NCT of Delhi) 2011 VI AD (Delhi) 11

UNIT III:
Offences against Women:
Obscene acts and songs - Outraging the modesty of women- stalking, Voyeurism –Rape ,
Cruelty by husband or relatives of husband-Offences relating to marriage

54. Kanwar Pal Singh Gill v. State (admn., U.T.Chandigarh) (2005) 6SCC 161
55. Tukaram v. State of Maharashtra AIR 1979 SC 185
56. An open Letter to the Chief Justice of India
57. State of Punjab v. Gurmit Singh (1996) 2 SCC 384
58. Sakshi v. Union of India (2004) 5 SCC 518
59. Bhupinder Sharma v. State of Himachal Pradesh (2003) 8 SCC 551
60. Priya Patel v. State of Madhya Pradesh (2006) 6 SCC 263
61. Bhupinder Singh v. U.T.Chandigarh (2008) 8SCC 531
62. Naz Foundation v. Government of NCT of Delhi (Excerpts) 2010 Cri.L.J. 94
UNIT IV:
Offences against Property
Offences against Property - Theft, Extortion, Robbery and Dacoity - Criminal
misappropriation and Criminal breach of trust – Cheating, Mischief, Criminal trespass.
Theft & Extortion:
63. K N Mehra v. State of Rajasthan AIR 1957 SC 369
64. Pyare Lal Bhargava v. State of Rajasthan AIR 1963 SC 1094
65. Jadunandan Singh v. Emperor AIR 1941 Pat. 129
66. Sekar v. Arumugham (2000) Cr. L. J. 1552 (Mad.)
67. State of Karnataka v. Basavegowda (1997) Cr L J 4386 (Kant.)
Criminal Misappropriation,Criminal Breach of Trust & Cheating
65. Jaikrishnadas Manohardas Desai v. State of Bombay AIR 1960 SC 889
66. Mahadeo Prasad v. State of West Bengal AIR 1954 SC 724
67. Akhil Kishore Ram v. Emperor AIR 1938 Pat 185
68. Sri Bhagwan S.S.V.v. Maharaj v. State of A.P AIR 1999 SC 2332
Pedagogy:
The application of pedagogy for the Criminal Law is stimulated or inspired from the reason
that a deeper understanding & foundation need to be developed. Pedagogy for the module has
to take care of two things; firstly, a regular interaction among students and tutor is required,
involving students in active & participative manner, secondly, an instructive strategy is
required to understand implications, emphasizing learning by doing. In the module following
pedagogical approaches are adopted:
 Student Lecture and Presentation: To support the development of theoretical
construct.
  Case Study Method: Better understanding of the cases & practical aspects of the
criminology and penology and victimology.
Examination Scheme:
Component of Evaluation MT Mem CRE EE
20 20 10 10 60
MT: Mid term Examination. : Mem: Memorial. CRE: Courtroom exercise: EE: End term
Examination.
Suggested readings:
Statues:
 Indian Penal Code 1860.
 Constitution of India.
Books:
1. Pillai, PSA, Criminal Law, 10th ed., Lexis-Nexis Butterworths Wadhwa, 2008
2. Jeroma Hall, Principles of Criminal Law
3. K.D.Gaur, Criminal Law Cases and Materials,7th ed.,LexisNexis,2013
4. R.C. Nigam, Law of Crimes in India (Vol. I) (1965)
5. Dr. Hari Singh Gaur: Penal Law of India
6. S.N. Mishra : Indian Penal Code, 19th ed., Central Law Publication,2013
7. Rattan Lal & Dhiraj Lal: Indian Penal Code- 30th Edition, Lexis-Nexis Butterworths
Wadhwa, 2008
8. Jaspal Singh: Indian Penal Code, Allahabad Law Agency, 1994
9. V.B. Raju, Commentary on Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Vol. I & II) (4th ed., 1982)
10. K.N.C. Pillai & Shabistan Aquil (Rev.), Essays on the Indian Penal Code (The Indian
Law Institute, 2005)