MNLU Aurangabad Guest Lecture Report

GUEST LECTURE BY Prof. Dr. Tamma Suryanarayana Sastry

Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad organized 10^th Juridical Lecture on “Different Perspectives of Law”on 21^st April 2018. The lecturewas delivered by Prof. Dr. Tamma Suryanarayana Sastry, Vice-Chancellor of The Tamil Nadu Dr.Ambedkar Law University, Chennai.

Dr. T.S.N. Sastry is a senior teacher spanning over more than two and half decades of teaching, and research experience, especially in the-fields of International Law and Human Rights.  He authored four books  on  International  Law  of  State Succession, Introduction to Human Rights and Duties, Human Rights of Vulnerable & Disadvantaged Groups, Human Rights and Duties in India : Law, Policy, Society and Enforcement Mechanism edited three books on Human Rights and Constitution.He published a number of research papers in journals of repute on International Law, Human Rights and Constitution of India. He was an academic fellow of the Erasmus Mundus External Window Lot 13. Dr. Sastry delivered lectures on various areas  of  International  Law,  human  rights  in  a  number  of  Indian  and  Foreign Universities.

He began his lecture with the question – What is Globalization? He then discussed the history of Globalization. According to him, globalization started with Karl Marx.Globalization, as we know it, can be described best as the increasing mobility of capital through the transfer of goods and services as well as the greater flow of information across borders due to the improvements in technology and the opening up of new markets. The capitalists of the post-Industrial countries as well as the up and coming capitalists seek to gain a competitive edge over each other by the natural process of capitalist accumulation that of increasing profits and lowering costs. But what are the consequences of this process? Karl Marx, a 19th century political and economic philosopher argued that this expansion of markets and the greater flow of goods and services would be the form capitalist society would take as it developed.

Dr. Sastry further explained-what is Law? How to see Law?What type of science it is? He explained the students about Manu.Manusmriti, translated as “The Laws of Manu” or “The Institutions of Manu,” is the most important and authoritative Hindu Law Book (Dharmashastra), which served as a foundational work on Hindu law and jurisprudence in ancient India at least 1500 years. Until the modern times, it was the standard reference for adjudicating civil and criminal cases by both the rulers who patronized Vedic faith and the people who practiced Hinduism. Hinduism has many law books. Of them, Manusmriti is certainly the most popular and authoritative work.

After that, he discussedthe economic perspectives of Law. He gave real life examples to understand the significance of economic perspective in Law.

He then spoke about Perspectives of International Law. He said, “International perspective in law means pure international Law and nothing else.”

He informedthat India is in need of lawyers/advocateswho have a strong command over International Perspectives of Law and can represent India on different forums in cases pertaining to India.

He also explained the connection of law and society. Law came into being because of society. Had there been no society, then there would have been no need of Law. Law is the integral part of our life. We cannot survive or imagine our life without law.

He linked Sociology with Law with the help of examples. “Earlier, Joint Family System prevailed but now the concept of nuclear family came into being. The increasing popularity of nuclear families is violating the human rights of senior citizens in India who end up living a lonely life, which in turn has a negative impact on their emotional and physical well-being. To address the problem of elderly people who are suffering, Maintainance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 came into existence. This happened because of changing behavior of the society.”

This problem has arised because the Indian society has startedimitating the Western society. But Indians fail to understand that the Economic, Political and Social scenario of the Western Society is altogether different from Indian scenario.

He compared the Indian Society with western society with respect to culture, etc. Because we imitate Western society, we start creating problems for our society and to address those issues, we need law. Through real life examples likethese, he explained the importance of Sociological perspective of Law.

He then concluded his lecture by saying “If we (Legal Fraternity) can understand law from different perspectives, then we will beable to understand the true essence of law, and only then can we apply it from different perspectives to solve the problems of real world.”

JURIDICAL LECTURE BY Prof. (Dr.) KesavaRao, Vurrakula

 11^THJuridical Lecture was organized in Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad on “Law of Contracts” on Saturday, 21^st April 2018. The lecture was delivered by Prof. (Dr) KesavaRao, Vurrakula, the Vice-Chancellor in-Charge of DamodaramSanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam.

Prof. KesavaRao is the Visiting Professor of Law at NLUO and has expertise in the areas of Family Law, Law of Evidence and Law of Insurance. He did his Ph.D. on “Legality of Claims in Commercial Advertisements”. He has 33 years of teaching experience. He served Andhra University both as Professor of Law and Dean, Faculty of Law. He has also been the Principal of NBM Law College, Andhra University for years. Prof. Rao was the Director of the Institute of Law and Ethics in Medicine at NLSIU (2002-03) and served Chanakya National Law University as its Registrar (2007-08).Five students have completed their Ph.D. under his guidance. Prof. Rao is the author of 4 books and more than 20 research papers. He has also participated in more than 30 national and international seminars. His own teaching and research focus has been on Contract Law, Law of Advertising, Insurance Law, Law of Evidence and Family Law.

He began his lectureby explaining the importance of “Law of Contracts” in our daily lives and how contracts has come up with the tag of one of the most important aspects of our life.Diving deeper into the importance of this particular area,he interacted with the students and asked them various questions to test their knowledge about the topic.

He then discussed with the students the very basic concepts of Contracts and Indian Contract Act, 1872.He informedthat the word originated from the Latin word ‘contractum’, and then moved on to the explanation of ‘Agreement’.He cleared the ambiguity of students regarding what makes certain proposal and its acceptance as an agreement. He gave various examples which engrossed students more in what he was explaining and thus his explanation in this topic of agreement was easy and students gave their undivided attention to what he was teaching.

He then continued by differentiating between the contracts and agreement. He discussed what is meant by the famously stated statement – “All contracts are agreements, but not all agreements are contracts.”

Further he stated the essentials of agreement and types of contracts – valid, void and voidable. He also discussed with students the minute difference between void and voidabinitio.He further explained about unenforceable contract and how an acceptance even if obtained under force could make contract on the option of the aggrieved party.

He further discussed the formation of contract. What are its essentials? What role consideration plays in contract?  What forbids agreement from being contract?

Towards the end of the lecture, students asked their doubts and Prof. KesavaRao answered their queries. He concluded by quoting – “Any knowledge that you possess today would be your asset in future”,thus, encouraging the students to read and learn as much as they can in a Law School.

The lecture was an altogether interactive session. The lecture was a great learning experience for every student of Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad.

By: Divyanshu Goyal

Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad