Mains Written Papers
What the mains tests
The written papers move from recognition to construction: state the rule, apply it to facts, and reach a reasoned conclusion. Civil Law commonly draws on the CPC, Contract, TPA, Specific Relief, Limitation, Court Fees, personal law and Punjab land statutes. Criminal Law draws on the penal code, procedure and evidence, with local police, excise and NDPS provisions where notified. English and Punjabi papers test précis, essay, grammar, translation and legal vocabulary; Punjabi is written in Gurmukhi.
Answer architecture
Use IRAC: Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion. Cite the provision before the case. For problem questions, answer the precise issue-for example, “whether the suit is barred”-not a general essay on limitation.
Worked example
A enters B’s land in 2005 without permission and remains openly; B sues in 2025, and A pleads adverse possession. Under Article 65 of the Limitation Act 1963, the period for a suit for possession of immovable property based on title is 12 years. But adverse possession must be nec vi, nec clam, nec precario-open, hostile and uninterrupted. If A entered permissively, or B periodically objected, the required hostility is absent and A’s plea fails. If A’s possession was truly hostile from 2005, B’s 2025 suit is beyond 12 years. The conclusion turns on proof of hostility, not mere length of stay.
Traps that cost marks
Reciting cases without applying them; wrong section numbers; ignoring Punjab statutes; writing criminal-law answers in civil-law language; Gurmukhi spelling errors; and failing to answer every part of a multi-part question.
Key points
- Mains rewards structured application, not bare recall.
- Use IRAC and cite the provision before the case.
- Civil Law includes CPC, Contract, TPA, Specific Relief, Limitation and Punjab land law.
- Criminal Law must match the notified code regime: IPC/CrPC/Evidence or BNS/BNSS/BSA.
- Language papers require Gurmukhi accuracy and clean translation.
- Answer the exact issue asked; do not drift into a general essay.