It is a violation of a legal right without causing any harm, loss or damage to the plaintiff and whenever any legal right is infringed, the person in whom the right is vested is entitled to bring an action. Every person has an absolute right to his property, to the immunity of his person, and to his liberty and infringement of this right is actionable per se. A person against whom the legal right has been infringed has a cause of action. The law even gives the liberty that if a person merely has a threat of infringement of a legal right has been threatened can bring a suit under the provisions of Specific Relief Act under Declaration and Injuction.
For example, if a person is wrongfully detained against his will, he will have a claim for substantial damages for wrongful imprisonment even if no consequential loss was suffered upon the detention.
In the landmark case of Ashby v. White (1703) wherein the plaintiff was a qualified voter at the parliamentary elections which were held at that point of time. The defendant, a returning officer wrongfully refused to take the plaintiff vote. The plaintiff suffered no damage since the candidate which he wished to vote already won the election but still, the defendants were held liable. It was concluded that the damage was not merely pecuniary but injury imports a damage, so when a man is hindered of his rights he is entitled to remedies.
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