per se
Meaning. By itself; intrinsically, without needing anything more.
Something is so per se when it has that character on its own, without proof of further facts or circumstances. In law the phrase marks the difference between what is automatically true and what depends on proof: an act may be illegal per se, or a statement defamatory per se because its words are plainly damaging.
It is often used negatively in judgments: “delay is not per se fatal”, or “relationship alone does not per se make a witness unreliable”. Each time, the court is saying that the fact named is not enough on its own and something more must be shown.
Example
Mere delay in lodging the FIR is not per se a ground to reject the prosecution case if it is satisfactorily explained.
See also
Read more in the study notes
- Administrative law: meaning, nature, scope, growth and sources (Administrative Law)
- Delegated legislation: meaning, growth, merits and administrative directions (Administrative Law)
- Reasoned decisions, exceptions to natural justice, effect of breach and Article 136 (Administrative Law)
- Central Vigilance Commission, parliamentary committees and commissions of inquiry (Administrative Law)
- Arbitration agreement and its drafting (Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems)
- Enforcement of arbitral awards and foreign awards (Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems)