In the legal context, a tort is a wrongful act or injury that causes harm to another person or their property. Torts can be either intentional or unintentional, and they can be committed by an individual or a group of people. When a group of people are jointly responsible for committing a tort, they are known as joint tortfeasors.

Joint tortfeasors are individuals or entities that are jointly and severally liable for committing a tort. This means that each joint tortfeasor is individually responsible for the entire harm caused by the tort, and the injured party has the right to sue any or all of the tortfeasors for damages.

There are several situations in which individuals or entities may be considered joint tortfeasors. One common example is when two or more individuals intentionally act together to cause harm to another person. For example, if two people conspire to commit a physical assault on someone, they could be considered joint tortfeasors.

Joint tortfeasors can also be liable for unintentional torts. For example, if two people are involved in a car accident, and both are found to be negligent in causing the accident, they may be considered joint tortfeasors. In this case, each person would be individually responsible for the damages caused by the accident, even if one person was more at fault than the other.

In addition to individuals, companies and other entities can also be joint tortfeasors. For example, if a company manufactures a defective product that causes harm to a consumer, and another company distributes the product, both companies could be considered joint tortfeasors.

Short & Simple – A tort is when someone does something wrong and it hurts someone else or their things. When more than one person does the same wrong thing and hurts someone, they are called joint tortfeasors. That means they are all responsible for the hurt they caused, and the person who was hurt can ask any of them to pay for the harm they caused.

There are several legal principles that apply to joint tortfeasors. One of the most important is the principle of joint and several liability. Under this principle, each joint tortfeasor is individually responsible for the entire harm caused by the tort, regardless of their individual level of fault. This means that the injured party has the right to sue any or all of the tortfeasors for damages, and the tortfeasors are required to pay the full amount of damages awarded by the court.

Another important principle is the principle of contribution. Under this principle, joint tortfeasors are entitled to seek contribution from each other for their share of the damages. This means that if one tortfeasor is required to pay more in damages than their share of fault, they can seek contribution from the other tortfeasors to cover the difference.

There are several defenses that joint tortfeasors may be able to use to avoid or reduce their liability. One common defense is the defense of comparative negligence. Under this defense, the tortfeasors may argue that the injured party was also at fault for the accident or injury, and that their own liability should be reduced accordingly.

Another defense is the defense of assumption of risk. Under this defense, the tortfeasors may argue that the injured party voluntarily assumed the risk of injury by engaging in a potentially dangerous activity. For example, if someone is injured while participating in a sport or other risky activity, the tortfeasors may argue that the injured party assumed the risk of injury by choosing to participate.

Here are some examples of landmark judgements on joint tortfeasors in India:

1. Kasturi Lal Lakshmi Reddy v. State of Jammu and Kashmir: In this case, the Supreme Court of India held that joint tortfeasors are jointly and severally liable for the harm caused by their actions.
2. Devki Nandan Prasad Verma v. State of Bihar: In this case, the Supreme Court of India held that joint tortfeasors are entitled to seek contribution from each other for their share of the damages.
3. Union of India v. Hyderabad Asbestos Cement Products Ltd.: In this case, the Supreme Court of India held that joint tortfeasors can be held liable for strict liability torts, or torts that do not require a showing of fault.
4. State of Tamil Nadu v. Chittaranjan Das: In this case, the Supreme Court of India held that joint tortfeasors can be held liable for environmental torts, or torts that cause harm to the environment.
5. State of Tamil Nadu v. A. Rangaswamy: In this case, the Supreme Court of India held that joint tortfeasors can be held liable for nuisance, or interference with the use and enjoyment of property.

These landmark judgements have helped to clarify the legal principles and liabilities of joint tortfeasors in India and have established the rights of injured parties to seek damages from joint tortfeasors.

In conclusion, joint tortfeasors are individuals or entities that are jointly and severally liable for committing a tort. Joint tortfeasors are individually responsible for the entire harm caused by the tort, and the injured party has the right to sue any or all of the tortfeasors for damages. There are several legal principles and defenses that apply to joint tortfeasors, and the specifics of a case will determine the liability of each tortfeasor.