SCMS - COCHIN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

COURSE PLAN
Programme: Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)

1.Course Profile
Course Title: BUSINESS LAW
Programme: Post Graduate Diploma in
Management (PGDM)
Total number of Sessions: 24
Session Duration: 1hr 25mts
Course Facilitator/Faculty: Adv. Lekshmy Ramesh

2.Course Objectives
Business managers are of vital importance in highly competitive business
environments and are thus presumed to be constantly updated themsleves with the
various laws and legislative changes as well as judicial pronouncments. Law is a
fundemental part of business environment and hence, there is a need to bring legal
and corporate professionals together because modern business ventures require
both, knowledge of law and cooperation with lawyers.
Business students who study the interaction of law and business can anticipate the
legal needs of their companies and comprehend how laws and regulations can impact
businesses in both positive and negative ways. Thus, students who understand the
legal implications will have a competitive advantage in the corporate world.
 To get an exposure on legal aspects and get a basic idea about the legal system
in India as an environment for business activities.
 To give students an overall idea of the role of law in monitoring the business so
as to benefit the society in the areas such as IPR, Consumer Rights and Cyber
Laws.

3.Course Outline (Syllabus)

Module No. Weightage Description (list of topics covered)
1 30% Introduction to Legal Aspects of Business, Law of
Contracts
2 25% Sale of Goods Act, Negotiable Instruments Act
3 25% Partnership Act, Companies Act, Labour Laws
4 20% Consumer Protection, IPR and Cyber Law
Total 100%
4.References
Sl. No Book/Jouranal Title Author Year/Edition/Volume Publisher
1 Legal Aspects of Ravinder 2009 Cengage
Business Kumar Learning
India Pvt. Ltd,
Delhi 92
2 Legal Aspects of Akhileshwar 2014 Tata McGraw-
Business Pathak Hill, New
Delhi
3 Business Laws Nirmal Singh 2003 Deep &Deep
Publications
4 Merchantile Law S.S. Gulshan Excel Books
5 Elements of N.D.Kapoor Edition 25 &26 ; Sultanchand
Merchantile Law 1983 & Sons
6 Law of Contratcs M Krishnan 1965 ; 2 Edition
nd
Sarala Nair
Nair
7 Students’ Guide to V.S. Datey 2003 Taxman
Business and Publication
Corporate Laws Pvt. Ltd

8 Business Law for Sandhya and 2004 Himalaya

Management Patil R.G. Publishing
House,
Mumbai
9 Principles of Business K 1991 Himalaya
Law Ashwathappa Publishing
House
10 Industrial Relations S.C.Srivastava 2012 ;6th Edition Vikas
and Labour Law Publishing
House, Noida
11 Intellectual Property, Deborah E 2012 Cengage
Law of Trademarks, Bouchoux Learning
Copyrights, Patents India, Pvt Ltd,
and Trade Secrets Delhi 92
12 Cyber Law Text and Barkha, U 2014 ;3rd Edition Asia Law
Crimes Rama Mohan House,
Hydrabad

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5.Learning Outcomes
 Become familiar to business enviroment and legal framework under
which, business activities function.
 Develop confidence in the preparation of agreements and other
documents which helps in various business activities.
 Be able to understand the various concepts and it’s importance in
framing business agreements.
 Apply critical and analytical skills required for business
transactions.
 Understand the different types of Negotiable Instruments
which are useful for business transactions.
 Develop effective strategies for aoiding legal issues in
business related to formation of firms under Indian
Partnership Act and Companies Act.
 Understanding cyber crimes.

6.Internal Assessment
Internal Assessment shall be based on the following evaluation criteria:
Criteria Pre Mid Post Mid Total Marks
Term Term
Midterm Exam 20 20
1.Assignments 2 x 7 1/2 50
(2 Nos.)
2. Test 1 10
3. Assignments 2 x 7 1/2
(2 Nos.)
4. Test 2 10
Total 70

6.1 Milestones/Important Dates

Sl No Assignment/Class Tentative
Test/Project/Presentation Date/Session

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 etc.
1 Assignment 1 &2 After 5 sessions &
After 10 sessions
2 Test 1/ Case Analysis 12 Session
3 Assignment 3 & 4 After 17 Sessions &
After 22 Sessions
4 Test 2 / Case Analysis 23 Session

6.2 Rubrics for assessment

Rubrics for Assignment:

4
 Very good
Below Average Average Good
Criteria\Marks Excellent ( >= 85)
(< 40 ) ( >= 40 and < 60 ) ( >= 60 and < 70 ) ( >= 70 and < 85 )

issues not Incomplete Issues identified but Issues properly

Identification of issues properly
identified identification of not able to present identified and able to
main issue identified with citations
properly issues the same present the same to
some extent
interpretation
Explanation given is Arguments and Citations and
Stage wise Not structured correct but the
correct but not conclusion correct explanations given are
analysis of the &Interpretation common
supported with but could not link clear and proper
case incorrect reasoning behind
decided cases with similar business selection of examples
them not clear
situations
Its relevance in Correct
Somewhat correct good effort made to Highlighted the findings
core legal interpretation and
could not state but not clearly link the case with legal with consequences in
aspects of Legal application
stated aspects of business business circle
business Of the problem

The language and The order of The t total presentation

The analysis written materials presentation is very in neat, clear,
Neatness and
very confusing presented in a presented in a good systematic and the organised manner
organisation
satisfactory level and organised quality of content is and is very easy to read
manner good and comprehend

The student is able to

Methodology Analysis shows
Methodology Methodology shows apply and capable of
selected is complete
Knowledge shows only a good understanding presenting the legal
wrong, lack of understanding of the
Level vague idea about of the problem, ideas aspects involved in the
understanding legal aspects of the
the topic in hand and processes problem confidently and
of the problem issues in discussion with clarity

1. Special information on Coursework

• Assignments & projects are evaluated on individual basis.

• Students are expected to mention the sources of information, even if rendered from internet, in the

assignments & projects they submit for evaluation.

• Any duplication / similarity of work will not be considered for evaluation and no request will be

entertained for resubmissions of the assignments

. Students should prepare assignments /projects based on the existing business scenario. Do not

confine to class room discussions alone.

8. Mid Term Examination Coverage and QP pattern

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 The mid- term examination shall be for 1½ hours and shall cover all the topics that
are envisaged in module 1 & 2 of this plan and the pattern will be as follows:

Section A Short notes : 3 questions (not exceeding 150

words)
(4x3 = 12
marks)

Section B
Descriptive/ Application questions (3 x 4 =
12 marks)

Section C Case / situational analysis (6 marks)

9. End Term Examination Coverage and QP pattern

The end term examination shall be for 3 hours and shall cover all the topics that are

envisaged in this plan and the pattern will be as follows:

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Section A Short notes : 5 Questions (not exceeding 200
words )
(5x3 =
15 marks)

Section B
Descriptive/ Application questions (6 x 6 = 36
marks)

Section C Case/ situational analysis : (9marks)

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10. Course Implementation : Module and Session Plan
Module
Pedagogy/ Activity Courseware (Cases/ Evaluation
Sessio Topics (Lecture, discussions, readings/ book & chapter (specify assessment tool )
No. Weightage ns presentations, references)
(% of total seminar etc………..)
content)
1
Introduction to the legal aspects Lecture, Class Part I of Book 1, Chapt. 1, Situational questions on Law of Contract
2 of business—Need, Purpose exercises, case part I of Book 3, Part I of & Indian Legal system connected to
and significance of Law studies, discussions Book 4, Chpt. 1,3,4 of Book business
3 Laws of Contract, Agreement, 6, ChPart I of Book 8, Chpt
Proposal (Offer), Acceptance, 1, Part I of Book 9, Chpt 1, Assignment 1
4 Promise, consent, , part I of Book 12 and
1 30% consideration, legal obligation , relevant portions of the
5 counter offer, standing offer, books referred under Course
cross offer, communication of outline.
6 offer

30% 8
Sale of Goods ACT, Contract Lecture, Class Part II & III of Book 1, Part Definition of goods, Nature of contract of
9 of sale, essentials of contract of exercises, case II (4.1,6.1-4) of Book 3, sale, Sale & agreement to sale, Sale &
sale, sale vs agreement to sale, studies, discussions Volume II of Book 3, Chpt. hire purchase agreement. Nature & kind
10 classification of Goods, on current issues 9 of Book 6, Part II & IV of of Negotiable Instruments, meaning &
contract for work and labour, relevant to business Book 8, Part II & VII(31) of definition, classification and use of
11 sale vs hire-purchase, condition situations Book 9,part II (16) & Part Negotiable Instruments in business
and warranties, ‘doctrine of IV of Book 12, and relevant transactions’.
12 caveat emptor’ portions of the books
2 referred under Course Assignment 2,
13 Negotiable Instruments Act, outline. Test I / Case analysis
various types of negotiable ( modules 1 & 2)
 14 instruments, classification of
such instruments such as
promissory notes, bills of
exchange & cheques

15

16

17 Indian Partnership Act, Lecture, Class Part III & V of Book 1, Part Nature of Partnership, Introduction &
Definitions and essentials of exercises,case II (5.1) & III of Book 3, Essentials of Partnership, Method of
18 Partnership, Formation of studies, discussions Chpt. 6 of Book 6, Part III existence of Partnership, Formation of
30% partnership, types of on issues arising & V of Book 8, Part III (13) partnership firms
3 19 partnership,, partnership deed, while forming & Part V of Book 2, Part III
rights and duties of partners, partnership firms of Book 12, and relevant Assignment 3
20 Industrial Relationships, trade portions of the books
union activities and labour law referred under Course
21 outline.

10% Topics related to Consumer protection Act

22 Law relating to Consumer
protection, Grievance redress
machinery, who is a consumer,
Rights of a consumer,
Introduction to IPR- definition
4 23
Lecture, Class Book no. 2 Part 6,
exercises, case Part VI of bookno. 1,
studies, discussions Part I (5) of Book 3,
Chpt 8,15-18 of Book
6, Part Vi of Book 8,
Part IV & VI of Book
& I P R, cyber law, Labour law –
(introduction/ fundamentals only)
Use and benefits of Indian partnership Act
for new entrepreneurs, various forms of
companies, issues related to company

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24 and its importance in business, , 9, and relevant formations, Consumers rights and
Cyber Law and cases portions of the books protection available under law, who all
referred under come under the purview of the Act,
Course outline, industrial relations and disputes, disputes
relevant portions arising out of IPR violations and cyber
from Book nos 10, crimes. Assignment 4, Test 2
11,.12 and other
relevant current
issues

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