Syllabus

COMPARATIVE LAW1
Introduction and objectives:
The conception and design of this course are aimed at: (i) acquainting the
students with the comparative method in the study of law and (ii)
exploring the possibilities of employing that method for the better
understanding and reform of our legal system. The course seeks to
achieve these goals in three ways. Firstly, it tries to comprehend an
understanding of the conceptions, scope and utility of comparative law.
Secondly, it gives a bird’s eye view of different legal systems in the
present day world. Finally, it compares the two most dominant and
widespread legal systems, i.e the common law and the civil law systems.
For comparison we assume that our own legal system represents the
common law while France and Germany represent the civil law. In view
of the constraints of time and expertise the course is confined to the
following topics.
1. CONCEPTION, EVOLUTION, SCOPE AND UTILITY OF

COMPARATIVE LAW:
The topic includes different conceptions of comparative law such as a

method of study or distinct science of law; descriptive, applied and
abstract comparative law; the subject matter and materials for
comparison; and the utility of the subject to a legal scholar practical
lawyer, legislature and a legal emissary.
Readings:
1. Materials supplied for the class ( hereafter Materials)

2. A. Harding & E. Oeruecue (eds), Comparative Law in the 21st
Century (Kulwer Academic Publishers, London, Hague, NY, 2002)
pp. 1-54
3. H.C. Gutteridge, Comparative Law ( Camb. Uni. Press 2nd ed., 1949)
Chaps I,II &VI.

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Course Teacher: Prof.(Dr.) M.P.Singh, Vice Chancellor, WBNUJS
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4. R. Khan & S. Kumar, An Introduction to the Study of Comparative
Law (N.M Tripathi, Bombay for ILI, 1971) Chaps I, II, & III.
5. R. David & J.E.C Bierley, Major Legal Systems in the World Today (
Stevens & Sons, London, 3rd ed., 1985) Introduction.
6. M.A. Glendon, M.W. Gordon & C. Osakwe, Comparative Legal
Traditions ( West Publishing Co., St Paul, 1985) Introduction.
7. W.Hug, the History of Comparative Law, 45 Harv. L. Rev. 1027
(1932)
8. W.F. Menski, Comparative Law in a Global Context ( Platinum,
London, 2000) Ch.I
References
¾ Paul H. Rubin, The Evolution of Efficient Common Law ( An Elgar

Reference Collection, 2007).
¾ Andrew Borkowski & Paul du Plesis, Text Book on Roman Law
( Oxford University Press, 2005)
¾ C.G. Weeramantry, An Invitation to the Law, ( Lawman, 1998)
II. MAJOR LEGAL SYSTEMS:
The topic examines the need and criteria of classification between

different legal systems and the major categories of such systems in the
present day world. These categories include the Romano – Germanic or
civil law and common law as major categories and along with them the
socialist, Islamic Hindu, Jewish, far Eastern and African legal systems as
not so major categories. Only basic distinctive features of these legal
systems shall be examined at this stage leaving the details to subsequent
topics. Effort shall be made to locate the position of the Indian legal
system in these categories.
Readings:
1. Materials.
2. David & Bierley, introduction
3. Glendon et al, Introduction
4. R. David, English Law and French Law ( Eastern Law House,
Calcutta) Chapters I & 2
2

References
¾ Werner Menski, Comparative Law in a Global Context – Legal

System of Asia and Africa ( Cambridge University Press, 2006)
¾ H. Patrick Glenn, Legal Traditions of the World – Sustainable
Diversity in Law ( Oxford University Press, 2000).
¾ Peter de Cruz, Comparative Law in a Changing World ( Cavendish
Publishing Limited, 1999)
¾ Wendy Dongier & Brian K. Smith, The Laws of Manu ( Penguin,
1991)
III. STRUCTURE AND SOURCES OF LAW IN CIVIL AND COMMON LAW
SYSTEMS.
The topic includes a thorough discussion with illustrations on the

structure and sources in the two legal systems. Among the sources of law
special emphasis shall be laid on legislation and precedent. The
conception of legal rule in the two legal systems will be specially
addressed and examined.
Readings:
1. Part One, titles II & III and Part Three, title I Chaps II & III
2. A. Von Methron & J.R. Gordley, The Civil Law Systems ( 2nd ed.,
1977)
3. W. Friedmann, legal theory ( Stevens, London, 4th ed., 1960) Chap.
32
4. A.L. Goodhart, Precedent in English and Commercial Law, 50 I.Q
Rev 40 ( 1934)
5. Gutteridge, chaps VII & VIII
6. D.Annoussamy, French Legal System (NLSIU, Bangalore, 1995 ) ch.
2
7. R. David, Ch.III
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8. K.Zweigert and H.Kotz, Comparative Law – An Introduction to (
Clarendon Press 1998) Introduction & pp. 63 -73ff.
References:
¾ Pierre Legrand and Roderick Munday, Comparative legal Studies:

Traditions and Transitions ( Cambridge University Press, 2003.)
¾ Jan M. Smits, elgar Encuclopedia of Comparative Law ( Edward
Elgar Publishing Limited, 2006).
¾ Mathias Reimann & Reinhard Zimmermann, the Oxford, Handbook
of Comparative Law (Oxford University Press, 2006.)
IV. ADJUDICATION IN THE CIVIL LAW SYSTEM
This topic concerns the judiciary. But the judiciary is structured

differently in the civil law system from the judiciary in the common law
system. This difference in structure along with the position and role of
the judiciary as well as its procedures vis – a – vis the judiciary in the
common law system will be discussed.
Readings:
1. Materials.
2. M.P. Singh, German Administrative Law in Common Law Perspective
(2nd ed., Springer Verlag, Berlin 2001) Chaps 7 & 8
3. R. David, French Law ( Lousiana State University Press, Balton
Rouge, 1972) Chaps III & IX
4. R. David, English Law and French Law ( Eastern Law House,
Calcutta) Chapter IV & V
5. D. Annoussamy, chaps IV, v & VI
6. W. Hegde, Justice and the Law in the Federal Republic of Germany
(C.F. Muller, Heidelberg, 1994).
References:
¾ Thomas Glyn Watkins, An Historical Introduction to modern Civil

Law (Ashgate, 1999).
V. SOME PUBLIC LAW ASPECTS OF THE CIVIL LAW SYSTEM
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This topic includes:
a. General approaches to Constitutional law and Administrative law.

b. Judicial Review of legislation and executive acts
c. Techniques of legal control of the executive including the remedies
and relief.
Readings:
1. Materials.
2. Harding & Oeruecue, pp. 121-136, 235-266
3. Davis (1980) chaps 6 & 7
4. M.P. Singh(ed), Comparative Constitutional Law: Festschrift in
Honour of Professor P.K. Tripathi ( Eastern Book Co. Lucknow,
1989) pp 26 - 42 & 45 – 416
5. E. Schmidt – Assmann, Basic principles of German Administrative
Law, 35 JILI 61 (1993)
6. N. Brown & J.S. Bell, French Administrative Law ( Butterworth,
London , 4th ed., 1993)
7. Annoussamy, Chap IV, V & VI
8. J. Bell, French Constitutional Law ( Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1992)
Ch.I
9. Singh (1989) pp.26ff., 29ff.&61ff.
10. Hegde, Ch.7
References:
¾ Vicki C. Jackson and Mark Tushnet, Comparative Constitutional

Law ( Foundation Press, 1999.)
¾ Mark Tushnet, Weak Courts, Strong Rights: Judicial Review and
Social Welfare Rights in Comparative Constitutional Law (Princeton,
2008)
¾ M. Singh, Mark Tushnet – Weak Courts, Strong Rights: Judicial
Review and Social Welfare Rights in Comparative Constitutional
Law, 3 The Indian Journal of Constitutional Law, 198 (2009)
¾ Georg Vanberg, The Politics of Constitutional Review in Germany

(Cambridge University Press, 2005).
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¾ S. Rose‐Ackerman & P.L. Lindseth, Comparative Administrative Law
(Edward Elgar, UK & USA, 2010)
VI. LAW OF CONTRACTS AND TORTS IN THE CIVIL LAW SYSTEM
The civil law system differentiates between public and private contracts
and torts. Accordingly they are governed by different principles of law.
These distinct principles will primarily be noted in this topic.
Readings:
1. Materials.
2. Singh ( 2001) chaps 4 & 9
3. David (1980) chaps 8 & 10
4. Von Mehron, Books III & IV
5. Watkins (1991) pp. 289 – 339 ff
6. Cruz (1999) Chap 10
7. Smits (2006) pp.180 – 186ff., 234 – 240 ff. 325 – 347 ff., 455 -466
ff., 497 -516ff.,610 – 629 ff. & 689 -698 ff.
8. Borokowsk & Plesis ( 20005) Chaps 9 & 10
9. Reimann & Zimmermann ( 2006) Chaps 28 & 31.
References:
¾ Heather Winett, Contemporary water Pollution Cases and roman

Law, 3 temp. Envtl.L. & Tech. J. 31 (1984)
¾ Dosis Jonas, Some Height on the Roman of Legal liability, 6 Baylor
L. Rev. 430 (1953 -1954)
Additional reading materials may be supplied and suggested in the class

from time to time. For more and latest readings the students should also
see the comparative law journals such as the American Journal of
Comparative Law, International and Comparative Law Quarterly. They
should also see the relevant materials in the International Encyclopedia
of Comparative Law, A Bibliography of Foreign and Comparative law by
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Szladits and the materials referred to in the bibliographies included in
the David & Brierley, Khan & Kumar and Singh ( 2001.)
Note: In consultation with the professor, every student is required to

write a paper on any topic of the student’s choice and to present it in the
class.
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COMPARATIVE LAW1

Introduction and objectives:

1. CONCEPTION, EVOLUTION, SCOPE AND UTILITY OF

The topic includes different conceptions of comparative law such as a

1. Materials supplied for the class ( hereafter Materials)

¾ Paul H. Rubin, The Evolution of Efficient Common Law ( An Elgar

II. MAJOR LEGAL SYSTEMS:

The topic examines the need and criteria of classification between

¾ Werner Menski, Comparative Law in a Global Context – Legal

III. STRUCTURE AND SOURCES OF LAW IN CIVIL AND COMMON LAW

The topic includes a thorough discussion with illustrations on the

¾ Pierre Legrand and Roderick Munday, Comparative legal Studies:

IV. ADJUDICATION IN THE CIVIL LAW SYSTEM

This topic concerns the judiciary. But the judiciary is structured

¾ Thomas Glyn Watkins, An Historical Introduction to modern Civil

V. SOME PUBLIC LAW ASPECTS OF THE CIVIL LAW SYSTEM

a. General approaches to Constitutional law and Administrative law.

¾ Vicki C. Jackson and Mark Tushnet, Comparative Constitutional

¾ Georg Vanberg, The Politics of Constitutional Review in Germany

¾ Heather Winett, Contemporary water Pollution Cases and roman

Additional reading materials may be supplied and suggested in the class

Note: In consultation with the professor, every student is required to

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