📘 Law Lexicon (With Exhaustive Reference to Indian Case Law) — (171st Year of Publication) with CD
✒️ Author: Wharton
📆 Edition: 17th (2017)
🌐 Language: English
🏢 Publisher: Lexis Nexis
Wharton’s Law Lexicon—celebrating its 171st year of publication—stands as a monumental work of legal scholarship, continuing its legacy as India’s most authoritative and exhaustive legal dictionary. Published by Lexis Nexis, the 17th Edition (2017) has been meticulously updated to include contemporary developments in law, major statutory amendments, and landmark Supreme Court and High Court decisions.
With its in-depth definitions, statutory references, and judicial interpretations, this Lexicon is an indispensable reference tool for judges, advocates, academicians, legal researchers, and students. The inclusion of a CD-ROM enhances its utility by enabling digital searchability and cross-referencing, making it a modern legal essential rooted in historic authority.
⚖️ Key Features of the 17th Edition (2017)
Exhaustive Legal Definitions:
Covers over 65,000 legal terms, maxims, and expressions, encompassing the entire spectrum of Indian law—civil, criminal, constitutional, commercial, corporate, tax, labour, and international law.Authoritative Judicial References:
Each definition is supported by relevant Indian case law citations from the Supreme Court and various High Courts, ensuring accuracy and contextual understanding.Updated Legislative References:
Incorporates amendments and newly enacted statutes up to December 2016, including:The Companies Act, 2013
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, 2016
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013
Comprehensive Cross-Referencing:
Each term includes cross-references to related expressions, doctrines, and Latin maxims for enhanced conceptual clarity.Indian and English Law Integration:
Maintains Wharton’s traditional comparative approach by incorporating relevant English common law principles alongside Indian statutory evolution and judicial interpretations.Special Focus on Indian Jurisprudence:
Reflects the evolution of Indian constitutional and statutory jurisprudence, with extensive citations from landmark cases such as:Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) – Basic Structure Doctrine
Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) – Due Process and Fair Procedure
Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India (2016) – Freedom of Speech and Defamation
Shayara Bano v. Union of India (2017) – Triple Talaq and Gender Justice
Comprehensive Latin Maxims and Doctrines:
Includes a separate section on Latin legal maxims, doctrines, and principles with their English translations and judicial explanations.Digital Companion (CD-ROM):
The accompanying CD enables quick keyword searches, cross-linking between terms, and easy navigation through thousands of entries—ideal for digital legal research and drafting.Etymological and Historical Notes:
Many definitions are accompanied by historical context tracing the origin and evolution of the legal term through English and Indian law.User-Friendly Layout:
Designed in alphabetical order, with clear typography and navigational aids, making it accessible for students and professionals alike.
📚 Coverage Overview
1. Substantive and Procedural Law
Definitions from civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative law.
Terms related to contracts, torts, trusts, property, evidence, and family law.
2. Commercial and Corporate Law
Coverage of company law, securities regulation, banking, insurance, and taxation.
Definitions aligned with modern financial and corporate terminology.
3. Constitutional and Human Rights Law
Key expressions drawn from Indian constitutional jurisprudence — covering fundamental rights, directive principles, federalism, judicial review, and due process.
4. Criminal Law and Procedure
Exhaustive coverage of offences, procedures, evidentiary standards, and sentencing principles under IPC and CrPC.
5. International and Comparative Law
Terms from international law, treaties, arbitration, and trade law, with comparative notes from UK and US jurisprudence.
6. Doctrines and Maxims
Hundreds of Latin and English legal maxims with explanations, including Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea and Audi alteram partem.
7. Contemporary Legal Fields
Includes entries on cyber law, intellectual property, environmental law, human rights, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and information technology law.
⚖️ Highlights of this Edition
Updated Indian Case Law Citations across all major branches of law.
Expanded Definitions to include recent terminology such as “cyber defamation”, “data privacy”, “e-commerce”, “corporate veil”, “public interest litigation (PIL)”, and “money laundering”.
Enhanced Cross-Referencing for multidimensional legal terms.
Authoritative Commentary offering interpretation and statutory context.
Supplementary CD-ROM providing searchable access to the entire Lexicon.
👩⚖️ Utility and Audience
Judges & Judicial Officers: Quick reference to definitions, principles, and precedents for drafting judgments.
Advocates & Legal Practitioners: Essential for legal drafting, argument preparation, and citation accuracy.
Law Students & Academicians: Comprehensive resource for understanding terminology across subjects.
Corporate Legal Teams & Compliance Professionals: Useful for interpreting technical terms in corporate, financial, and regulatory contexts.
🏛️ Legacy and Scholarly Value
Originally authored by J.J.S. Wharton, this work traces its lineage to the early 19th century, when Wharton’s Law Lexicon was first published in England. Its subsequent Indian editions, enhanced by generations of Indian editors and scholars, have adapted the text to reflect the Indian legal system’s growth—from colonial courts to modern constitutional democracy.
This 171st Year Edition preserves that rich heritage, while incorporating the contemporary legal vocabulary of an increasingly globalized and technology-driven legal landscape.
🧾 CD-ROM Features
Full text search with Boolean operators
Hyperlinked definitions and cross-references
Indexed case law citations
Printable extracts for academic or court use
⚖️ Conclusion
The Law Lexicon (With Exhaustive Reference to Indian Case Law) — 17th Edition (2017) by Wharton, published by Lexis Nexis, remains the gold standard of legal dictionaries in India.
Blending historic continuity with modern relevance, it serves as a definitive repository of legal terminology, enriched with Indian case law, statutory context, and cross-jurisdictional insight.
With its digital search companion (CD), this edition continues Wharton’s legacy of over a century and a half, reaffirming its place as an indispensable tool for every member of the legal fraternity who seeks precision, depth, and authority in the language of law.
