Absolute Liability

September 18, 2023

“Absolute liability” is a legal concept that goes even further than strict liability in terms of imposing responsibility for certain actions or activities. Under absolute liability, a person or entity can be held liable for the consequences of their actions, regardless of fault, intent, or any defenses. This means that even if someone took all reasonable precautions and exercised extreme care, they could still be held liable if harm results from the activity or condition in question.

Key points about absolute liability:

  • No Defenses :  Unlike  strict liability, where there may be limited defenses available, absolute liability typically allows no defenses. Even if the responsible party can demonstrate that they took every possible precaution to prevent harm, they can still be held liable if harm occurs.
  • Common Applications: Absolute liability is most often applied in situations where there is an exceptionally high risk of harm to the public, and it is deemed necessary to ensure strict accountability. Examples of situations where absolute liability may be imposed include the storage and transportation of extremely hazardous substances, handling of nuclear materials, and certain environmental pollution cases.
  • Public Safety: The concept of absolute liability is based on the principle of protecting public safety and ensuring that those engaged in extremely dangerous activities or industries take ultimate responsibility for the harm that may result. It serves as a strong deterrent to prevent such activities or practices from causing harm.

If you want to be a judicial officer and are looking for  RJS coaching in Jaipur , here, at Jyoti Judiciary we provide comprehensive study material to make your preparation solidified and topnotch. From preliminary mock tests, to mains answer writing sessions every material required for clearing the exam is provided. We have separate legal current affairs classes, legal general knowledge, current affairs classes all in one time enrolment. Hurry up.

This article is written by Shivani Singh, faculty at Jyoti Judiciary.

Leave a Comment