Criminal Liability
Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea
The act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty.
Legal Maxims
Maxims of the Law
Latin maxims that still shape criminal law and procedure in Indian courts, with their meaning in plain English.
31 maxims in five groups
Criminal Liability
Nullum crimen sine lege
There is no crime without a law that makes it one.
Criminal Liability
Nulla poena sine lege
There is no punishment without a law that provides for it.
Criminal Liability
Doli incapax
Incapable of crime: a child below the age of criminal responsibility.
Criminal Liability
Actus me invito factus non est meus actus
An act done by me against my will is not my act.
Criminal Liability
Ignorantia juris non excusat
Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
Criminal Liability
Ignorantia facti excusat
Ignorance of a fact may excuse.
Criminal Liability
Nemo debet bis vexari pro una et eadem causa
No one should be troubled twice for the same cause.
Criminal Liability
Nemo tenetur seipsum accusare
No one is bound to accuse himself.
Evidence and Proof
Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat
The burden of proof lies on the one who asserts, not on the one who denies.
Evidence and Proof
In dubio pro reo
When in doubt, decide for the accused.
Evidence and Proof
Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus
False in one thing, false in all. Indian courts do not apply it as a rule of law.
Evidence and Proof
Nemo moriturus praesumitur mentiri
A person about to die is not presumed to lie.
Evidence and Proof
Res gestae
Things done: facts so connected with the event that they form part of the same transaction.
Evidence and Proof
Corpus delicti
The body of the crime: the facts which show that an offence was committed.
Evidence and Proof
Res ipsa loquitur
The thing speaks for itself.
Natural Justice
Audi alteram partem
Let the other side be heard.
Natural Justice
Nemo judex in causa sua
No one should be a judge in his own cause.
Natural Justice
Justitia nemini neganda est
Justice is to be denied to no one.
Natural Justice
Fiat justitia ruat caelum
Let justice be done though the heavens fall.
Natural Justice
Salus populi suprema lex esto
The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.
Courts and Procedure
Ubi jus ibi remedium
Where there is a right, there is a remedy.
Courts and Procedure
Actus curiae neminem gravabit
An act of the court shall prejudice no one.
Courts and Procedure
Lex non cogit ad impossibilia
The law does not compel the impossible.
Courts and Procedure
Vigilantibus non dormientibus jura subveniunt
The law helps the vigilant, not those who sleep over their rights.
Courts and Procedure
Stare decisis
To stand by what has been decided.
Courts and Procedure
Habeas corpus
You may have the body: the writ against unlawful detention.
Courts and Procedure
Delegatus non potest delegare
One to whom a power is delegated cannot delegate it further.
Interpretation
Expressio unius est exclusio alterius
The express mention of one thing excludes others.
Interpretation
Generalia specialibus non derogant
General provisions do not override special ones.
Interpretation
Ut res magis valeat quam pereat
A provision is read so that it takes effect rather than fails.
No maxim matches that search.
General information only. Translations are given in plain English and are not a statement of how any court has applied a maxim in a particular case.