DELIGATUS NON-POTEST DELEGARE

Against the morals or customs

This legal maxim is of latin origin meaning against morals, or customs, or good way of life. All contracts are considered illegal if they are contra bonos mores. These can be reduced to several classes: (1}Incentive to crime, which is a claim that cannot be sustained, therefore, on a bond for compounding a crime or for procuring a pardon. (2}Indecent consideration, or mischievous consideration, is an obligation or engagement which is either prejudicial to the feelings of a third party, or offensive to decency or morality, is void.

The act itself does not constitute guilt unless done with a guilty mind.

It is a Latin maxim, which means that for any act to be illegal in nature it must be done with a guilty mind. Hence, act done without any intention cannot be punished. Not only is the act of the accused important but also the intention of the accused to do the specific act is equally important to prove the guilt of the accused. Hence, it can be said that mere breach of law is not sufficient to constitute a crime.

Not by violence, stealth or entreaty

Nec, Vi, Nec Clam, Nec Precario is a Latin legal maxim which means that, “not by violence, stealth or entreaty”. In other words it means that, ‘not by force, nor stealth, nor the license of the owner’. It is often referred in the context of adverse possession and other land law issues.