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"11.The jurisprudential concept of negligence defies any
precise definition. Eminent jurists and leading judgments
have assigned various meanings to negligence. The concept
as has been acceptable to Indian jurisprudential thought is
well-stated in the Law of Torts, Ratanlal & Dhirajlal
(Twenty-fourth Edition 2002, edited by Justice G.P. Singh).
It is stated (at p.441-442) ___ "Negligence is the breach of
a duty caused by the omission to do something which a
reasonable man, guided by those considerations which
ordinarily regulate the conduct of human affairs would do,
or doing something which a prudent and reasonable man
would not do. Actionable negligence consists in the neglect
of the use of ordinary care or skill towards a person to
whom the defendant owes the duty of observing ordinary
care and skill, by which neglect the plaintiff has suffered
injury to his person or property. The definition involves
three constituents of negligence: (1) A legal duty to exercise
due care on the part of the party complained of towards the
party complaining the former's conduct within the scope of
the duty; (2) breach of the said duty; and (3) consequential
damage. Cause of action for negligence arises only when
damage occurs; for, damage is a necessary ingredient of this
tort."