Mens Rea & its importance in Criminal Cases

Mens rea refers to the guilty intention, knowledge, or state of mind of an accused in committing a crime. It has come to fore as an indispensable element of crime in tune with a Latin maxim which means, “there can be no crime without a guilty mind” (actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea). An act done by a person becomes a crime only when it is done with a guilty intention or mental state, in normal course. In other words, an act done with absolutely no guilty intention or state of mind may not become a crime.

Maneka Gandhi judgment simplified

The judgment in Maneka Gandhi case ( Maneka Gandhi v Union of India: AIR 1978 SC 597) was a landmark judgment in the judicial history of India. It was a conscious attempt on the part of the Supreme Court (SC) in restoring the people’s faith in the judiciary which reached at its low in the seventies, particularly after the ADM Jabalpur judgment which is considered to be the most infamous judgment in India.

Mastery of Language: The Advocate’s Essential Tool

For an advocate, no tool is more crucial to professional success than a mastery of language. While this principle applies to any profession reliant on words, it is especially true in advocacy, where both written and spoken language play a decisive role. Given that a vast body of legal material is in English, this article will focus specifically on an advocate's command of the English language.