General Principles of Criminal Law

K.N.C. Pillai's General Principles of Criminal Law is a well-established work that presents the principles of criminal law through the case method. It is the first work of its kind to dispel the convention of confining this area of study to the four walls of the statutory regime.

The 2nd Edition has been thoroughly updated and beautifully designed, in keeping with the existing pattern of the work. The learned author has introduced each topic in the book and then explained it by leading English and Indian cases. At the end of each case, fundamental questions of law are given for classroom discussion. To help students prepare case notes, the text of cases has been condensed, edited and summarised; some explanatory notes and suggested readings are also added to them. The category of uncompleted crimes, often called inchoate offenses, also finds a significant place in the book.

This landmark work will be indispensable to students of LL.B. and LL.M. and anyone teaching or learning the basic principles of criminal law.

Reviews

"The approach adopted by the author will definitely help the students to develop a legal mind … References given at the end of each case enable them to learn searching materials…"

- The Academy Law Review

"The author has taken all care to include each component required for learning successfully advocacy in criminal law. The pioneering attempt will meet to the requirement of law teacher and students particularly teaching criminal law."

- Review Projector

TABLE OF CASES

INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I: Sources and Fundamental Principles in the Enforcement Context
CHAPTER II: General Principles of Criminal Law
CHAPTER III: General Principles of Criminal Responsibility
CHAPTER IV: Parties to Crime: The Doctrine of Complicity
CHAPTER V: Uncompleted Crimes: Attempt, Conspiracy and Abetment
CHAPTER VI: Defences to Criminal Charges based on Justifications
CHAPTER VII: General Defences based on Excuses
CHAPTER VIII: Crimes against Persons
CHAPTER IX: Criminal Sexual Conduct and Other Crimes
CHAPTER X: Crimes against Property-Theft and Mischief
CHAPTER XI: Offences Relating to Marriage
CHAPTER XII: Crimes against Public Order and Morals

Subject Index