Question:

The violation of which of the given rights leads to an action in torts?

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Think of it this way: - Tort = Breach of a duty/right *in rem* (imposed by law, owed to society generally). - Contract = Breach of a right *in personam* (imposed by mutual consent, owed to specific parties).
Updated On: Jun 29, 2026
  • Rights per se
  • Rights in rem
  • Rights in personam
  • Rights ad finitum
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Concept: A tort is a civil wrong independent of a breach of contract or breach of trust, for which the primary remedy is an action for unliquidated damages. To understand which legal right forms the foundation of tortious liability, we must evaluate the distinction between rights *in rem* and rights *in personam*.

Step 1: Defining Right in rem versus Right in personam.
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Right in rem: A right available against the entire world at large. Examples include your right to personal liberty, your right to safety, and your right to peaceful possession of your private property. No random citizen has a right to trespass on your land or defame your character. *

Right in personam: A right available only against a specific, identifiable individual or group of individuals. This typically arises out of a private consensus or contract. For instance, if Party A enters into a contract to buy a car from Party B, Party A's right to demand delivery is enforceable strictly against Party B, not against the entire world.

Step 2: Connecting the concepts to the Law of Torts.
The law of torts protects general rights that are automatically conferred upon every individual by the law of the land, independent of any prior agreement. For example: * Negligence violates a person's right to safety. * Trespass violates a person's right to possession of property. * Defamation violates a person's right to reputation. Since these rights are held against the world at large, they are fundamentally rights in rem. If a person violates a right *in personam*, the appropriate legal remedy is an action for breach of contract or breach of trust, rather than an action in torts.
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