Regulation of Legal Actions in French Law and Its Feasibility in Jurisprudence and Iranian Law

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. in jurisprudence and private law, department of jurisprudence and private law, Shahid Motahari University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor of Shahid Motahari University and Higher School, Department of Jurisprudence and Law, Shahid Motahari University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
In contract law, one of the principles consistently emphasized by jurists and Islamic scholars—both in theory and practice—is the avoidance of contract nullification. The principle of preventing contract nullification does not adhere to a uniform system across legal frameworks; rather, each jurisdiction has developed its own distinct methods. One such approach involves legislative or contractual intervention to rectify elements that would otherwise render a contract void. For instance, mechanisms like the severability of contracts or the elimination of invalid clauses demonstrate efforts to preserve contractual validity by excising defective portions. These examples illustrate that legislators have long recognized—and utilized—methods to salvage voidable acts. However, such cases remain context-specific, lacking a comprehensive theoretical foundation. Through meticulous analysis, certain French judges 
and jurists have observed that legislators, whether intentionally or inadvertently, remedy void acts. Consequently, they have sought to systematize these isolated instances under a unified framework termed the regulation of legal acts. This article examines this institution, elucidating French jurists’ perspectives on the theory and evaluating its potential applicability within Imamiyyah jurisprudence and Iranian law.
 
Methods
This research employs a comparative methodology, drawing on library sources and descriptive-analytical approaches to assess the viewpoints of French and Iranian jurists, as well as Imamiyyah scholars.
 
Results
The regulation of legal acts constitutes a specific judicial or legislative process whereby a defective legal act is corrected—for example, a contract containing an invalid clause may be preserved if the parties remove the offending provision. French jurists lack consensus on the regulation of legal acts, a divergence rooted in several factors. Some equate it with the institution of confirmation of relative nullity, arguing that confirmation occasionally fulfills the same function as regulation, thereby blurring the distinction between the two. Others highlight inconsistencies in regulatory methods, noting that while some forms of regulation are statutory, others arise from party autonomy or require judicial intervention.
Proponents of regulation’s unique nature advocate caution, as its retroactive application risks harming third parties. For instance, during the interval between a contract’s formation and its regulatory correction, parties may act on the contract’s terms, potentially incurring significant costs. By contrast, Imamiyyah jurisprudence and Iranian law lack preventive mechanisms like the bifurcation of nullity (absolute vs. relative) or doctrines such as contractual transformation and apparent acts. Consequently, void legal acts proliferate, as the legal system recognizes only three states for such acts: void, valid, and *non-effective*. While valid acts pose no issue, non-effectiveness (e.g., unauthorized contracts or acts by legally incapacitated persons) and voidness (resulting from violations of mandatory rules) create ambiguities. Crucially, any breach of mandatory rules outside the scope of non-effectiveness leads to nullity, disproportionately expanding the range of void acts—a paradigm at odds with transactional stability. Thus, introducing regulatory mechanisms could resolve this tension.
Conclusion
Despite its challenges, the regulation of legal acts—by prioritizing contractual continuity and legal security—merits adoption within a carefully delineated framework.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Alavi Gorgani, M. (2005). Al-Taliqa Ali Tahrir al-Wasila, Tehran: Institute for Editing and Publishing the Works of Imam Khomeini. [in Arabic]
Allameh Tabatabai, M. (1981). Hashiyyah Al-Kafaye, Qom: Allameh Tabatabai Scientific and Intellectual Foundation. [in Arabic]
Al-Saba'i, H. (2000) Theory of nullity of contracts, Morocco: Manshorat Akad. [in Arabic]
Ameli Hosseini, J. (1998). Miftah al-Karamah, Qom: tari whakaputa Ihirama e hono ana ki te hapori o nga kaiako o te whare wananga o Qom. [in Arabic]
Ameli Larijani, S. (2005). Argument in Credibility, Philosophical-Theological Researches, 24(2) 4-34, Dol: 10.22091/PFK.2005.319. [in Persian]
Anne Sophie, L.(2015). La distinction des nullités relative et absolue.
Ansari Dezfouli, M. (1994). Kitab al-Makasab, Qom: Sheikh Azam Ansari World Congress. [in Arabic]
Aubry, Ch. (2011). Cours de droit civil français, Strasbourg.
Baali, A. (2009). An introductory study on the transformation of contracts in jurisprudence and law, United Arab Emirates: Department of Islamic Affairs and Charity. [in Arabic]
Bénabent, A. (2012). Droit des obligations, LGDJ, 13ème éd.
Bojnordi, H. (1998). Al-Qasas al-Fiqhiyyah, Qom: Al Hadi publication. [in Arabic]
Hosseini Milani, A. (2007). Tahgig al-Usul, Qom: Al-Haqaq. [in Arabic]
Darabpour, M. (2016). Commentary on international sales law, Tehran: Ganch Danesh. [in Persian]
Dupeyron, ch. (1973). La régularisation des actes nuls, préface P. HÉBRAUD, Paris, L.G.D.J.
Fazel Lankarani, M. (2004). Tafseel AL Shari'ah - al-Mudarabah, al-Sharqa, al-Muzharah, al-Masaqa, al-Din, al-Rahn, al-zaman, al-Hwala, al-Kafala, al-Wakalah, al-Iqar and al-Haba, Qom: Center of Jurisprudence of Imams Athar. [in Arabic]
Gaudef, S. (1995). Inexistence, nullit et annulabilit du contrat: essai de synthe'se.
Ghaffari, A. (1988). Man la Yahdrah Al-Faqih, Tehran: Sadouq Publishing. [in persian]
Hakim, M. (1995). Mustamsk al-Arwa al-Waghti, Qom: Dar al-Tafseer Institute. [in Arabic]
Haeri, K. (2002). Fiqh al-Aqud, Qom:  Islamic Thought Forum. [in Arabic]
Halabi, H. (1996). Ghaniyeh al-Nuzou, Tehran: Institute of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him). [in Arabic]
Hali, F. (1967). Idah al-Fawadee, Qom: Ismailian publishing house. [in Arabic]
Hali, H. (1993). Tazkira al-Fiqaha, Qom: Al-Al-Bayt Institute, peace be upon them. [in Arabic]
Hali, M. (1989). Al-Sraer, Qom: Islamic Publications Office. [in Arabic]
Hashemi Shahroudi, M. (2005). Researches in agricultural jurisprudence, Qom: Islamic Fiqh Encyclopedia. [in Arabic]
Jafari Langroudi, M. (2007). Al-faraq, Tehran: Ganj Danesh. [in persian]
Jafari Langroudi, M. (2014). Philosophy of civil rights, Tehran: Ganj Danesh. [in persian]
Jafari Langroudi, M. (2015). Higher philosophy in the science of law, Tehran: Ganj Danesh. [in Persian]
Katouzian, N. (2016). Course of civil rights, Tehran: Ganj Danesh. [in persian]
Kazem Yazdi, M. (1999). Hashiyyah al-Makasab, Qom: Ismailian Institute. [in Arabic]
Khamar, N. (2016). The theory of transformation of contract in civil law, Master's thesis, Algiers. [in Arabic]
Khoei, A. (1991). Misbah al-Faqaha, Beyrouth: Dar El Hadi. [in Arabic]
Sabaei, A. (1987). The Theory of Nullity of Contracts. [in Arabic]
Khomeini, M. (1997). Kitab al-Bai, Tehran: Institute for Organizing and Publishing the Works of Imam Khomeini Quds Sar. [in Arabic]
Lotfi, E. (2016). a speech in criticism of the legal theory of "action by appearance", Private Legal Studies, 47 (2) 309-323, DOI:10.22059/JLQ.2017.62616. [in Persian]
Makarem Shirazi, N. (2009). Tariq al-Wasl Ala Mohemmat Usul, publisher: Dar al-Nashar al-Imam Ali bin Abi Talib, peace be upon him. [in Arabic]
Malaurie, p; Aynès, L; Stoffe. (2016). Droit des obligations, LGDJ, 8ème éd.
Meshkini, A. (2008). Collection of works of Ayeollah Meshkini, vol. 7, Qom: Dar al-Hadith. [in Arabic]
Mohaghegh Kirki, Abdul Ali. (1989). Al-Maqassed Mosque, Qom: Al-Al-Bayt Alaihim Islam Institute. [in Arabic]
Mohagheq Damad, M. (2010). Terms and obligations in Islamic law, Tehran: Islamic Publishing Center. [in persian]
Mohseni, S. (2010). The Concept and Effects of Relative Nullity, Knowledge and Development Magazine, 33, 246-271. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.22067/pm.v17i33.27318. [in persian]
Mousavi Khomeini, R. (2000). Kitab Al-Bai, Tehran: Imam Khomeini Publishing and Works Organization Institute. [in Arabic]
Mughniyeh, M. (2000). Fiqh of Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), Qom: Ansarian Institute. [in Arabic]
Nekonam, M. (2007). Tahrir al-Tahrir, Qom: Zahoor Shafaq. [in Arabic]
Pakbaz, S. (2021). Description of French civil law, Tehran: Iran. [in persian]
Pierre, Jobin. (1974). L'inexistence dans le droit commun des contrats, Volume 15, numéro 1.
Planiol, M. (1980). Traité élémentaire de droit civil.
Safai, H. (2017). Laws of International Sale of Goods, Tehran: Tehran University Press. [in persian]
Sanei, Y. (2010). Al-Taliqa Ali Tahrir al-Wasila, Tehran: Al-Arouj Institute. [in Arabic]
Shahid Avval, M. (1989). Al-Lama Al-Damashqiyah, Beirut: Dar al-Trath - Al-Dar al-Islami. [in Arabic]
Shahidi, M. (2017). Principles of contracts and obligations, Tehran: Majd. [in Persian]
Shaygan, A. (1996). Civil Rights, Qazvin: Taha. In Persian.
Shoareyan, E; Torabi, E. (2013). The law of obligations, a comparative study of the French law of obligations reform plan with Iranian law and international documents, Tehran, Shahrdanesh Publications. [in Persian]
Shobeari Zanjani, S. (1998). Ketab Nikah, Qom: Rai Pardaz Research Institute. [in persian]
Sobhani Tabrizi, J. (1995). Nizam al-Madarabah fi al-Shari'a al-Islamiyya al-Ghara, Qom: Institute of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him). [in Arabic]
Sufyan, S. (2017).The Theory of Contract Transformation in Algerian Civil Law, Journal of Studies and Research, 29 (2). [in Arabic]
Tabatabai Qomi, T. (1992). Arauna Fi Asul Fiqh, Qom: Mahalati. [in Arabic]
Tabatabai Qomi, T. (1992). Omdat al-Mataleb Fe Ta'aliq Ali al-Makasib, Qom: Mahalati Bookstore. in Arabic.
Tabatabai Qomi, T. (2002). Alghaye al-Qaswi fi al-ta'aliq Ali al-Arwa al-Waghti, Qom: Mahalati Publications. [in Arabic]
THibierge, C. (1992). Nullité, Restitution et Responsabilité, PARIS.
Tousi, M. (1979). Al-Nahaye, Beyrouth: Dar al-Kitab al-Arabi. [in Arabic]
Tusi, M. (1987). Al-Wasileh, Tehran: Publications of Ayatollah Al-Marashi Library. [in Arabic]
Van, O. (2010). Droit des obligations, tome II, Sources des obligations (deuxième partie), Bruxelles, Bruylant.
WÉRY, p. (2006). La nullité des contrats, Belgique.
Wéry, P. (2016(. La régularisation d'un contrat entaché d'une cause de nullité. In: Revue de jurisprudence de Liège, Mons et Bruxelles, Vol 128, no 7, p 295-300, DOI: http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/171877.
 
 

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics