Question of law and question of fact

All questions which arise for consideration and determination in a court of justice are
of two kinds, i.e.,Question of law and question of fact.

  Question of law

Question of law, also known as a point of law, is a question that must be answered by
applying relevant legal principles to interpretation of the law.

All questions 

i) which have already been answered by the law or

ii) which answered by the court and became judicial precedent for similar cases or

iii) which is to be answered by the court without recording the evidence

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­are questions of law.

Question of fact

Question of fact which must be answered by reference to facts and evidence (means to
prove facts) as well inferences (which can be inferred from fact) arising from those
facts. 

In general sense­­­­

question of fact includes---

i) question which is not predetermined by a rule of law;

ii) question except a question as to what the law is;

iii) question that is to be answered by the jury.

Answers to questions of law are generally expressed in terms of broad legal principles
and   can   be   applied   to   many   situations   rather   than   be   dependent   on   particular
circumstances or factual situations. An answer to a question of law as applied to the
particular facts of a case is often referred to as a "conclusion of law."

To illustrate the difference:

• Question of fact: Did Mr A cause accident in which his vehicle  involved and
Mr B died? 
Was   Mr   A   driving   his   vehicle   negligently   or   guilty   of   rash   and   negligent
driving?
          Did husband abuse wife for not preparing food well?
 • Question of law:  Is Mr A liable to pay compensation to the legal heirs of Mr
B?

                             Is Mr A liable to be punished  under criminal law for rash and
negligent driving?

                 Is husband guity of causing mental cruelty to wife by abusing her for not
preparing food well? 

Mixed Question of law and question of fact

There are also mixed questions which are partly questions of fact and partly of law.

Example:
Whether a partnership exists between A and B is partly one of (question of ) fact (viz., what
agreement has been made between them) and partly one (question )of law (viz., whether such an
agreement is sufficient to constitute thelegal relation of partnership).

Example: Wherether relationship between Mr A and Ms C is husband and wife is partly a question
of fact i.e., whether they got married and partly question of law i.e., is their marriage valid/legal one
or not.

Conclusion

Question of law is one which is answered by law or judicial precedent and judges.

Question of fact is one which can be proved through recording evidence. Itexcludes the discretion
of the court to decide the matter.

Mixed question of law and fact is determined by law and fact.