Judicial Service Examination
West Bengal SYLLABUS
Based on the authoritative syllabus compilation provided by EdVidhi. Candidates should verify the latest official recruitment notification issued by the concerned High Court / authority before applying.
Exam Stages
Compulsory Papers + Optional Papers
Mains Papers
1 Papers
EXAM PATTERN AT A GLANCE
MAINS
Papers: 1
MAINS EXAMINATION
Compulsory Papers
Subjects & Syllabus Topics
English Composition, Essay and Precis Writing
- •Essay Writing on Contemporary Socio-Legal, Constitutional and National Issues
- •Legal Précis Writing & Summarization of Judicial Decisions
- •Legal Translation: English to Vernacular / Hindi & Vernacular to English
- •Legal Grammar, Idiomatic Expressions, Sentence Correction & Legal Vocabulary
Bengali / Hindi / Urdu / Nepali composition, Essay and Translation
- •Essay Writing on Contemporary Socio-Legal, Constitutional and National Issues
- •Legal Précis Writing & Summarization of Judicial Decisions
- •Legal Translation: English to Vernacular / Hindi & Vernacular to English
- •Legal Grammar, Idiomatic Expressions, Sentence Correction & Legal Vocabulary
General Knowledge and Current Affairs
- •Definitions: Premises, Landlord, Tenant, Standard Rent & Lawful Additions
- •Grounds of Eviction: Non-Payment of Rent, Subletting, Bona Fide Personal Requirement
- •Powers, Duties and Procedures of Rent Controller / Rent Controlling Authority
- •Appeals, Revision and Summary Procedure for Quick Eviction
Civil Procedure Code
- •Jurisdiction of Civil Courts (Sec 9), Res Judicata (Sec 11) & Res Sub-Judice (Sec 10)
- •Place of Suing (Secs 15–20), Institution of Suits & Summons (Order V)
- •Pleadings (Order VI), Plaint (Order VII) & Written Statement / Counter-Claim (Order VIII)
- •Appearance of Parties, Ex-Parte Decrees & Setting Aside Remedies (Order IX)
- •Framing of Issues (Order XIV) & Disposal of Suits at First Hearing (Order XV)
- •Temporary Injunctions & Interlocutory Orders (Order XXXIX)
- •Execution of Decrees and Orders (Secs 36–74, Order XXI)
- •Appeals (First Appeal - Sec 96, Second Appeal - Sec 100), Reference, Review & Revision (Sec 115)
- •Civil Judgment Writing & Decree Preparation (Order XX)
Criminal Procedure Code
- •Constitution & Hierarchy of Criminal Courts and Powers (Secs 6–25A)
- •Arrest of Persons & Rights of Arrested Persons (Secs 41–60A)
- •Process to Compel Appearance: Summons, Warrants, Proclamation & Attachment
- •Maintenance of Wives, Children and Parents (Section 125)
- •Information to Police, FIR (Sec 154), Police Investigation & Charge Sheet (Sec 173)
- •Cognizance of Offences & Complaints to Magistrates (Secs 190–203)
- •Framing of Charges & Joinder of Charges (Secs 211–224)
- •Trial Procedures: Sessions Trial, Warrant Cases, Summons Cases & Summary Trials
- •Bail Provisions: Bailable (Sec 436), Non-Bailable (Sec 437) & Anticipatory Bail (Sec 438)
- •Criminal Appeals, Reference, Revision & Inherent Powers of High Court (Sec 482)
- •Criminal Framing of Charges & Judgment Writing
Indian Penal Code
- •General Explanations, Common Intention (Sec 34) vs Common Object (Sec 149)
- •General Exceptions (Secs 76–106) & Right of Private Defence
- •Inchoate Offences: Abetment (Secs 107–120) & Criminal Conspiracy (Secs 120A–120B)
- •Offences Against Public Tranquility: Unlawful Assembly, Rioting & Affray (Secs 141–160)
- •Offences Affecting Human Body: Culpable Homicide (Sec 299) vs Murder (Sec 300), Hurt, Kidnapping & Rape
- •Offences Against Property: Theft, Extortion, Robbery, Dacoity, Criminal Breach of Trust & Cheating
- •Offences Relating to Marriage (Sec 498A), Forgery (Sec 463) & Defamation (Sec 499)
Indian Evidence Act
- •Relevancy of Facts: Res Gestae (Sec 6), Motive, Preparation & Conduct (Sec 8), Alibi (Sec 11)
- •Admissions & Confessions: Confession to Police (Secs 25–26) & Discovery of Fact (Sec 27)
- •Statements by Persons who cannot be called: Dying Declarations (Sec 32(1))
- •Expert Opinion (Sec 45) & Relevancy of Character
- •Primary vs Secondary Evidence & Special Provisions for Electronic Records (Sec 65B)
- •Burden of Proof (Secs 101–111) & Statutory Presumptions (Secs 113A, 113B, 114A)
- •Doctrine of Estoppel (Secs 115–117)
- •Competency & Examination of Witnesses: Chief, Cross-Examination, Leading Questions & Hostile Witness
Law of Contracts
- •Formation of Contract: Proposal, Acceptance, Revocation & Consideration (Sec 2(d), Sec 25)
- •Free Consent: Coercion, Undue Influence, Fraud, Misrepresentation & Mistake (Secs 15–22)
- •Void Agreements, Contingent Contracts & Quasi-Contracts (Secs 68–72)
- •Performance and Discharge of Contract & Doctrine of Frustration (Sec 56)
- •Remedies for Breach of Contract: Liquidated Damages & Compensation (Secs 73–75)
- •Special Contracts: Indemnity, Guarantee, Bailment, Pledge & Agency
Law of Torts
- •Foundational Principles: Injuria Sine Damno vs Damnum Sine Injuria & General Defences
- •Vicarious Liability of Master and State Liability for Sovereign Functions
- •Negligence, Nuisance, Trespass & Defamation
- •Strict Liability (Rylands v. Fletcher) & Absolute Liability (M.C. Mehta Rule)
- •Remedies in Torts: Damages, Injunctions & Consumer Protection Principles
Transfer of Property Act
- •General Principles of Transfer: Transferable Property, Rule Against Perpetuity (Sec 14)
- •Vested Interest (Sec 19) vs Contingent Interest (Sec 21)
- •Doctrine of Election (Sec 35), Ostensible Owner (Sec 41) & Lis Pendens (Sec 52)
- •Fraudulent Transfer (Sec 53) & Doctrine of Part Performance (Sec 53A)
- •Sales & Mortgages: Right of Redemption (Sec 60), Clog on Redemption, Foreclosure & Sale
- •Leases of Immovable Property (Secs 105–117), Exchanges, Gifts (Secs 122–129) & Actionable Claims
OPTIONAL PAPERS
Candidates shall take up any three of the following topics. Each paper carries 100 marks and is of 3 hours duration.
Optional Papers
Subjects & Syllabus Topics
Hindu Law
- •Sources & Schools of Hindu Law (Mitakshara & Dayabhaga)
- •Hindu Marriage Act, 1955: Ceremonies, Restitution of Conjugal Rights, Void/Voidable Marriages & Divorce
- •Hindu Succession Act, 1956: Intestate Succession, Coparcenary Rights of Daughters (2005 Amendment) & Stridhan
- •Hindu Adoption & Maintenance Act, 1956: Valid Adoption & Maintenance of Dependants
- •Hindu Minority & Guardianship Act, 1956: Natural Guardians & Legal Powers
- •Joint Hindu Family & Coparcenary: Karta's Powers, Alienation of Property & Partition
Muslim Law
- •Sources & Schools of Muslim Law (Sunni & Shia Schools)
- •Nikah (Marriage): Essentials, Classification (Sahih, Fasid, Batil) & Dower (Mahr)
- •Dissolution of Marriage: Talaq, Khula, Mubarat & Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939
- •Maintenance (Nafaqah) & Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986
- •Gifts (Hiba): Essentials & Delivery of Possession; Wills (Wasiyat) & One-Third Rule
- •Wakf: Creation, Objects & Mutawalli; Law of Pre-emption (Shuffa)
Jurisprudence and principles of legislation
- •Schools of Jurisprudence: Analytical, Natural Law, Historical, Sociological & Realist
- •Sources of Law: Custom, Precedent (Stare Decisis & Ratio Decidendi) & Legislation
- •Legal Concepts: Legal Rights and Duties, Ownership, Possession, Title & Property
- •Legal Personality: Status of Unborn, Dead Persons, Animals, Corporations & Idols
- •Liability: Civil and Criminal Liability, Negligence, Strict Liability & Theories of Punishment
Indian law relating to companies and Insurance
- •Key statutory provisions, statutory interpretations and landmark judicial precedents under Indian law relating to companies and Insurance
- •Practical application, procedural aspects and conceptual problems for Judicial Service examination
Principles of Equity including the Law of Trusts and Specific Relief
- •Recovery of Possession of Movable & Immovable Property (Secs 5–8)
- •Specific Performance of Contracts & Defences (Secs 9–16, Substituted Performance Sec 20)
- •Rectification, Rescission & Cancellation of Instruments (Secs 26–31)
- •Declaratory Decrees (Secs 34–35)
- •Preventive Relief: Temporary, Perpetual & Mandatory Injunctions (Secs 36–42)
Partnership Act
- •Nature and Definition of Partnership, Test of Partnership & Position of Minor (Sec 30)
- •Mutual Rights and Liabilities of Partners & Implied Authority of Partner
- •Incoming and Outgoing Partners, Registration of Firms & Effect of Non-Registration (Sec 69)
- •Dissolution of Firm & Modes of Dissolution (Secs 39–44)
Law of Limitation and Law of Prescription
- •Bar of Limitation (Sec 3) & Extension / Condonation of Delay (Sec 5)
- •Legal Disability (Secs 6–8) & Continuous Running of Time (Sec 9)
- •Computation of Limitation Period: Exclusion of Time in Legal Proceedings (Secs 12–15)
- •Effect of Written Acknowledgment (Sec 18) & Part-Payment (Sec 19)
- •Acquisition of Ownership by Possession / Prescription (Secs 25–27)
Indian Constitution and Constitutional Law
- •Preamble & Fundamental Rights (Arts 12–35) with Landmark Writ Remedies (Arts 32 & 226)
- •Directive Principles of State Policy (Arts 36–51) & Fundamental Duties (Art 51A)
- •Union & State Executive: Powers of President & Governor, Ordinance Making Power
- •Union & State Judiciary: Powers and Jurisdiction of Supreme Court & High Courts
- •Distribution of Legislative Powers (Union, State & Concurrent Lists) & Repugnancy (Art 254)
- •Emergency Provisions (Arts 352–360) & Constitutional Amendments (Art 368 / Basic Structure)
WHAT MAKES THIS SYLLABUS DIFFERENT?
- →Candidates must choose 3 optional law papers out of 8 choices
- →Includes Company and Insurance law as an optional subject
- →Includes Jurisprudence and principles of legislation
- →Allows answers in Bengali
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