Rewant Mehra
Roll No. - 73/16
B. A. LLB.
Section – B
Legal Terms
1. Plaintiff – One who initially brings the suit; one who in a personal action, seek a remedy
in a court of justice for an injury to, or withholding of one’s rights.
A plaintiff is a person who files a plaint for exemplary damages.
2. Plaint – A statement in writing of grounds of complaint made to court of law and asking
for redress and grievance.
Plaint is a complaint filed by the plaintiff against the defendant.
3. Defence – Action against attack or challenge; the opposing or denial of the truth or
validity of the prosecutor’s complaint; the proceedings by a defendant or accused party or
legal agents for defending himself.
John entrusted his defence to the most eminent advocate of the region.
4. Appeal – A proceeding taken before a superior court for reversing or modifying decision
of an inferior court on ground of error. The submission of lower court’s verdict, ruling
etc. to a higher court for review.
The defendant filed an appeal in the high court for review of verdict of the district court.
5. Magistrate – An officer of the court at the lowest level which hears small complaints,
lawsuits, serves as a judge for charges of minor crime and also conducts preliminary
hearings in a criminal case to determine if there is enough evidence presented by the
prosecution to hold the accused for trial.
The magistrates in India have both civil and criminal jurisdiction in minor cases.
6. Judge – A judge is an official with authority and responsibility to preside in a court, try
law suits and make legal rulings. An appointed or elected official responsible for
conducting a court in which he or she resolves legal controversies.
The judge agreed with the defence attorney that the police had no probable cause for a
search solely on an unsubstantiated tip.
7. Matrimonial Home – The house where husband and wife live together is called a
matrimonial home.
The wife left the matrimonial home after the divorce from his husband.
8. Divorce – A judicial declaration dissolving a marriage in whole or in part specially that
releases the marriage partner from all matrimonial obligations. To terminate a marriage to
someone by obtaining a court order, usually referred to as a divorce decree.
John had not been considering divorce before, but now he is adamant on getting a divorce
at all costs.
9. Alimony – An allowance for support made under court order to a divorced person by the
former spouse, usually the chief provider during the marriage. Alimony may also be
granted without a divorce, as between legally separated persons.
She demanded 1crore lump sum alimony from John as the price of divorce from him.
10. Judicial Separation – A separation of husband and wife under orders of curt which puts
an end to the co-habitation but not the marriage itself.
It took Brad seven years to secure a judicial separation from his wife.
11. Polygamy – The condition of having more than one spouse at one time; entering into
multiple marriages.
Polygamy, though allowed by their religion, is practiced for the most part among the
wealthy classes only.
12. Bigamy – The act of marrying a second time while a previous marriage is still legally in
effect; when done knowingly, it is a criminal offence.
In the higher court, he admitted that he had committed bigamy and therefore he was
awarded punishment under Criminal Procedure Code.
13. Adoption – It is the legal act whereby an adult person takes a minor into the relation of a
child and thereby acquires the rights and incurs the responsibility of a parent in respect to
such a minor.
Much as they wanted the baby, they felt adoption was the best choice.
14. Legitimate – It is the act which is within the rules, correct or accepted as proper; being in
compliance with the law.
It is a legitimate question that deserves an equally careful reasoned answer.
15. Will – A person’s formal declaration of his intention as to the disposal of his property or
other matters to be performed after his death; a document spelling out what is to be done
with the person’s belonging’s after he/she has died.
Donald revised his will just before his death to donate his belongings to a charitable
organization.
16. Deed – An instrument in writing purporting to effect some legal disposition; a written
conveyance of an interest in real property.
Richard was able to record her property deed.
17. Agency – The relationship of a person who acts on the behalf of another person or
government known as the principal; a fiduciary relationship in which a person or entity
act, by mutual consent, for the benefit of another and bind the other party by words or
deeds.
In case of an offence committed by the agency, the principal will also be held liable for
the offence.
18. Litigation – It refers to the action or process of carrying on a suit of law.
Litigation in mining matters is conducted before special benches attached to the district
courts.
19. Bail – Security, such as cash, a bond, or property, pledged or given to a court or on behalf
of one accused of committing a crime, to obtain release from incarceration and to ensure
the person’s future appearance in court when required during the criminal proceedings;
temporary release from imprisonment on furnishing security to appear for trial.
The alleged killer has been released after paying 10,000 rupees as bail, and is awaiting
trial.
20. Bailable – Allowing or admitting of bail; a bailable offence.
As this was a bailable offence, Burr was soon at liberty once more.
21. Non-Bailable – Not being admitted of bail as a matter of right.
Treason not being a bailable offence, Burr had to go to jail now.
22. Bailment – The act of placing property in the custody and control of another usually by
argument in which the holder is responsible for safe keeping and return of the property;
the delivery of goods by one party to another to be held in trust for a specific purpose and
returned when that purpose is ended.
There are so many attempts made to state the duty of the bailee specifically, according to
the nature of the bailment and of the object bailed.
23. Written Statement – The pleading filed by a defendant in a suit stating his ground of
defence is written statement.
You can make a written statement about how the crime has affected you.
24. Petition – A formal application in writing made to go for judicial action for something
that lies in the jurisdiction; a formal written request for something to be done or not to be
done, delivered to a court or other official body.
In reply to their petition, the governor denied that he had made any promise in their
behalf.
25. Minor – Any person who has not attained majority within the meaning of Indian Majority
Act;
It is illegal to sell alcohol and tobacco products to a minor.
26. Pledge – Pledge is to deposit personal property as security for a personal loan of money;
an item of property given as security for a debt or performance.
This somewhat hazardous pledge was nobly redeemed
27. Misstatement – A wrongful act or omission which gives rise to a civil action in a court of
law against the party that has committed the wrongful act.
After making the necessary deductions for actual mistakes and misstatements in this case,
there still remains a large number upon which legitimate differences of opinion prevails.
28. Maintenance – Financial support paid by one ex-spouse to another pursuant to a legal
separation or divorce; to assist a party to a lawsuit with which one has no connection by
providing financial or other support to enable the party to pursue the matter.
The court ordered the husband to pay 50,000 rupees as maintenance to the wife and the
child.
29. Court – A governmental body that adjudicated legal disputes by interpreting and applying
the law to specific cases.
We have a police force and a court system to apply the laws equally to all.
30. Tribunal – An officer or body with the authority to pronounce the judgment on a matter
based upon the evidence.
An international tribunal was formed to deal with the war crimes.
31. Public – Belonging to, or concerning the people as whole; of or by the community at
large; carried out or funded by the state on behalf of the community.
After more than a century as a dessert for royalty alone, ice cream was made available to
the general public for the first time in 1670 in Paris.
32. Private – The definition of private is something that belongs to or is used by only a
limited few, or information available only to a limited number of people and not publicly
shared; of, belonging to, or concerning a particular person or group; not common or
general.
Sometimes countries simply nationalize industries, so that an enterprise once owned by a
private company is taken over by the government or the people.
33. Legal – Something connected to law or government’s system or rules; of, created by,
based upon, or authorized by law.
The law institute legal protection for copyrights, patents and trademarks.
34. Illegal – The definition of illegal is a person not permitted to be in a country or an act that
is against the law; unlawful; illicit.
It is illegal to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation.
35. Rule – An established or prescribed standard for action; the general norm for conduct in a
specific kind of situation; a principle, standard or regulation that governs the internal
workings of a court or an agency.
The tactical rule that an army should act in masses when attacking, and in smaller groups
in retreat, unconsciously confirms the truth that the strength of an army depends on its
spirit.
36. Regulation – A rule issued by an administrative agency or a local governmental body
prescribing conditions or authorizations that must be followed by the public or by public
utilities; the process of controlling by restrictions or rules.
Under an apparently uniform and stable system of social regulation, there was much
variation and movement, the significance of which it is impossible to estimate.
37. Illegitimate – A person who was born to unmarried parents, or something that is
incorrectly decided, or is not in accordance with the rule or laws.
The percentage of illegitimate births is the lowest in Germany.
38. Valid – Valid is something effective, legally binding or able to withstand objection;
properly executed and binding under the law.
As a general rule, an agreement without consideration is not valid in the eyes of law.
39. Monogamy – A law or custom permitting a person to be married to only one spouse; the
practice or state of being married to only one person at a time.
Bigamy is the term used to describe the crime of a person who does not adhere to
monogamy and has more than one spouse.
40. Agreement – A mutual understanding between two or more legally competent individuals
or entities about their rights and duties regarding their past or future performances and
consideration.
According to the Indian Contract Act, agreement is every promise and set of promises
forming the consideration for each other.
