THE LAWSMOS LIBRARY
Legal maxims used in Indian courts, explained with Supreme Court references.
Court procedure
An act of the court should harm no one.
Courts may correct prejudice caused by their own acts. Its application depends on the facts and the relief legally available.
Supreme Court of India, judgment dated 17 August 2017, paragraph 56
Natural justice
Hear the other side.
A person affected by a decision should have a fair opportunity to be heard. The required procedure depends on the statute and circumstances.
Supreme Court of India, judgment dated 1 September 2025, p. 55
Equity and remedies
No one should benefit from their own wrong.
A party should not gain a legal advantage through its own wrongful conduct, including misuse of court proceedings.
Supreme Court of India, judgment dated 6 March 2020, paragraph 318
Statutory interpretation
Of the same kind.
General words following a specific list may be limited to the same identifiable class. Legislative purpose and context can require a broader reading.
Supreme Court of India, judgment dated 18 November 2021, p. 18
Natural justice
No one should judge their own cause.
Decision-makers must be impartial. This principle addresses bias and conflicts of interest in adjudication.
Supreme Court of India, judgment dated 1 September 2025, p. 55
Statutory interpretation
A word is understood by its companions.
Surrounding words can help resolve the meaning of an ambiguous expression. The statutory context remains controlling.
Supreme Court of India, judgment dated 18 November 2021, p. 18
Evidence and negligence
The thing speaks for itself.
The circumstances of an accident may support an inference of negligence. The inference depends on the evidence and is not automatic.
Supreme Court of India, judgment dated 5 January 2022, paragraphs 57–58
Civil remedies
Where there is a right, there is a remedy.
The recognition of a legal right ordinarily carries a means of enforcing it, subject to statutory jurisdiction and procedural rules.
Supreme Court of India, judgment dated 23 March 2026, paragraphs 30–31
Initial collection · Sources reviewed 2026-09-23 · 8 entries