SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies

Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

Program: B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) 8101 & B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) 8102 Semester: VIII
Module: International Humanitarian Law and Refugee Law Module Code:
Teaching Scheme Evaluation Scheme
Lecture Practical Tutorial Term End
Internal Continuous
(Hours (Hours (Hours Examinations (TEE)
Credit Assessment (ICA)
per per per week) (Marks- 50 in
(Marks - 50)
week) week) Question Paper)
3 0 0 3 Marks Scaled to 50 Marks Scaled to 50
Pre-requisite: Basic understanding of social sciences and International Law in general.
Objectives
1. To inculcate a general understanding of the principles of International Humanitarian Law
and the rules that apply during war time
2. To further the understanding of the dynamic relationship between politics, human rights
and international law.
Outcomes:
After completion of the course, students would be able to:
1. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of International Humanitarian Law and critically
analyze the impact of International Humanitarian Law norms and case law on domestic
law (PLO 1a)
2. Address contemporary issues in International Humanitarian Law and policy with
reference to a variety of legal material (PLO 2a)
3. To appreciate the difficulty in the application of International Humanitarian Law,
International Human Rights Law and Refugee Law in various factual situations (PLO
1b)
Detailed Syllabus: (per session plan)
Unit Description: Duration

1. Introduction to International Humanitarian Law 3 Hrs

- diff bw PIL &
a) Definition of International Humanitarian Law
IHL
b) Jus In Bello and Jus Ad Bellum
who is combatant,
c) Synergy and dissonance between International Humanitarian
duties of combatant, Law and International Human Rights Law
sources - lieber, martins
status (pg 45,46) d) Fundamental Principles of International Humanitarian Law. clause (what, KW case,
e) Sources of International Humanitarian Law ICJ opinion),
f) History: St. Petersburg, customs
 Ancient Indian and Oriental Philosophies on the Law of War
 Eastern and Western Philosophies on the Law of War
 History of International Legal Instruments on the Laws of War
cases-
Basic Readings: 1. KW Cae
a) Chapter 1, Principles of International Humanitarian Law, Jonathan 2. ICJ opinion on
Crowe and Kylie Weston-Scheuber, Edward Elgar publishers 2013 nuclear weapons
3. IMT (Nuremberg)
b) Chapter 6, Principles of International Humanitarian Law, Jonathan 4. Pros v Todic
Crowe and Kylie Weston-Scheuber, Edward Elgar publishers 2013
Reference Readings:
a) Chapter 1, The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Armed
Conflict, Andrew Clapham and Paola Gaeta, Oxford University Press,
2015
 SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

b) Chapter 26, The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Armed

Conflict, Andrew Clapham and Paola Gaeta, Oxford University Press,
2015
Pedagogy: Discussion Method
2. Scope and Application of International Humanitarian Law 3 Hrs
a) What is an armed conflict?
b) International Armed Conflict and Non-International Armed Conflict.
c) Common Article 3 Geneva Convention. Cases-
Basic Readings: 1. Prosecutors v Tadic - IAC (pg 10)
a) Prosecutor v. Tadic (1995) 2. Pros v Haradinaj - NIAC
3. Pros v Kunarac - test of control (pg 11)
Reference Readings: 4. Nicaragua v USA - test of control
Pedagogy: Discussion Method 5. Juan Carlos Abella v Argentina - duration of a conflict

3. Treatment of victims and prisoners of war 3 Hrs

a) Introduction
b) The general obligation of humane treatment
c) Participants in the Conflict
Basic Readings:
a) Chapter 5, Principles of International Humanitarian Law, Jonathan
Crowe and Kylie Weston-Scheuber, Edward Elgar Publishers 2013
Reference Readings:
a) Chapter 5, The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Armed
Conflict, Andrew Clapham and Paola Gaeta, Oxford University Press,
2015
Pedagogy: Discussion
4. Treatment of victims and prisoners of war Art :1-3, 12-27, 33-37, 46 3 Hrs
Protection of wounded and sick in armed forces on the field
Basic Readings:
a) Chapter 5, Principles of International Humanitarian Law, Jonathan
Crowe and Kylie Weston-Scheuber, Edward Elgar Publishers, 2013
Reference Readings:
a) Chapter 5, The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Armed
Conflict, Andrew Clapham & Paola Gaeta, Oxford University Press,
2015
Pedagogy: Discussion
5. Treatment of victims and prisoners of war Art: 12-13, 18-23, 24-29, 40 3 Hrs
a) Protection of wounded, sick and shipwrecked members of armed
forces at sea
Basic Readings:
a) Chapter 5, Principles of International Humanitarian Law, Jonathan
Crowe and Kylie Weston-Scheuber, Edward Elgar Publishers, 2013
Reference Readings:
a) Chapter 7, The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Armed
Conflict, Andrew Clapham & Paola Gaeta, Oxford University Press,
2015
Pedagogy: Discussion and analysis of case law
 cases-
1. Pros vs Rajic - Stupnin Do - pg 74
2. Israel, Military Pros v Kassem & Ors -
- in order to get the status of PoW, the accused must be member of the armed forces according to Art 4 of Geneva convention 3.
- Art 2 prescribes the scope of its application towards high contracting parties
3. Hamden v Rumsfeld
SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

6. Treatment of victims and prisoners of war pg 97 - 100 3 Hrs

a) Protection of prisoners of war pg 101 -110
b) Status of Spies, Mercenaries and unpriviledged belligerents.
Basic Readings:
a) Chapter 5, Principles of International Humanitarian Law, Jonathan
Crowe and Kylie Weston-Scheuber, Edward Elgar Publishers, 2013
Pedagogy: Discussion
7. Treatment of victims and prisoners of war 3 Hrs
a) Protection of civilian persons in times of war
Basic Readings:
a) Chapter 4, Principles of International Humanitarian Law, Jonathan
Crowe and Kylie Weston-Scheuber, Edward Elgar Publishers, 2013
Reference Readings:
a) Chapter 12, The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Armed
Conflict, Andrew Clapham & Paola Gaeta, Oxford University Press,
2015
Pedagogy: Discussion and analysis of case law
8. Limitations on the methods of warfare 3 Hrs
a) General limitations on the methods of warfare
b) Protection of cultural property during times of armed conflict
Basic Readings:
a) Chapter 3, Principles of International Humanitarian Law, Jonathan
Crowe and Kylie Weston-Scheuber, Edward Elgar Publishers, 2013
Reference Readings:
a) Chapters 11, 12, 13 & 20, The Oxford Handbook of International Law
in Armed Conflict, Andrew Clapham & Paola Gaeta, Oxford
University Press, 2015
Pedagogy: Discussion and analysis of case law
9. Enforcement of International Humanitarian Law 3 Hrs
a) Enforcement of International conventions
b) State practice : India
Basic Readings:
a) Chapters 7 and 8, Principles of International Humanitarian law,
Jonathan Crowe and Kylie Weston-Scheuber, Edward Elgar
Publishers, 2013
Reference readings:
a) Chapters 30 & 31, The Oxford Handbook of International Law in
Armed Conflict, Andrew Clapham & Paola Gaeta, Oxford University
Press, 2015
Pedagogy: Discussion and analysis of case law
10. Introduction to International Refugee Law 3 Hrs
a) Definition of Refugee
1 b) General principles for determining refugee status
c) Migrants, immigrants, internally displaced and stateless persons
Basic Readings:
a) Chapter 1, Refugee Law: A Reader, B.S. Chimni, Sage India, 2000
 SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

Pedagogy: Discussion and analysis of case law

11. The legal and institutional framework for refugee protection 3 Hrs
a) Origin and development of international refugee principles
b) 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1961 Protocol
Basic Readings:
a) Chapter 1, Refugee Law: A Reader, B.S. Chimni, Sage India, 2000
Pedagogy: Discussion and analysis of case law
12. The role of the UNHCR in the various refugee crises 3 Hrs
a) Intervention under the League of Nations
b) Intervention under the United Nations
Basic Readings
a) Chapter 1, The UNHCR and the supervision of International Refugee
Law, James C Simeon, Cambridge University Press, 201
Pedagogy: Discussion and analysis of case law
13. International Refugee Principles 3 Hrs
a) Asylum and principle of non-refoulement
b) Durable Solutions
c) Safe Haven
d) Principle of Family Unity
Basic Readings:
a) Chapters 2 & 6 of International Refugee Law: A Reader, BS Chimni,
Sage Publications, 2000
Pedagogy: Discussion and analysis of case law
14. International Refugee Law : Success or failure? 3 Hrs
a) Challenges in the implementation and enforcement of International
Refugee Law
Basic Readings:
a) Chapters 1 & 2, The UNHCR and the supervision of International
Refugee Law, James C Simeon, Cambridge University Press, 2013
Pedagogy: Discussion and analysis of case law
15. Laws relating to refugees in India 3 Hrs
a) National framework for refugee protection in India
b) Role played by the National Human Rights Commission, SAARC
and other institutions
Basic Readings:
a) Chapter 4, The State Practice of India and the development of
International Law : dynamic interplay between foreign policy and
jurisprudence, Bimal Patel, Brill’s Asian Law Series, Brill Nijhoff,
2016
Pedagogy: Discussion and analysis of case law
Total 45 Hrs

Text Books:
1. Principles of International Humanitarian Law, Jonathan Crowe, Kylie Weston-Scheuber,
Edward Elgar Publishers 2013.
2. International Refugee Law: A Reader, BS Chimni, Sage Publications, 2000 (Classic).
 SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

Reference Books:
1. The Handbook of International Humanitarian law, Dieter Fleck, fourth edition, Oxford
University Press, 2021.
2. The Law of Refugee Status, James C Hathaway & Michelle Foster, second edition,
Cambridge University Press, 2014 (Classic).
3. The State Practice of India and the development of International Law: dynamic interplay
between foreign policy and jurisprudence, Bimal Patel, Brill’s Asian Law Series, Brill
Nijhoff, 2016.
Any Other Information:

Latest Updated Statutes, Act, Rules and Regulations and Case Law to be taught after discussion
in Multi-Campus Program Coordination (MPC) Meeting.

Total Marks of Internal Continuous Assessment (ICA) - 50 Marks

Distribution of ICA Marks:

Description of ICA Marks

Test 1 20 Marks
Quiz 10 Marks
Group Discussion 10 Marks
Class Participation 10 Marks
Total Marks : 50 Marks

Signature Signature
(Prepared by Afrin Khan) (Approved by Dean)

Updated: October 2023