Implied Trusts And Illegality

How Clean is Clean?

Abstract

"He who comes to equity must come with clean hands" 

The maxim that a plaintiff in equity must approach the court with clean hands alludes to a number of distinct rules whereby a particular conduct may lead to a refusal of relief. This maxim is closely linked with "he who seeks equity must do equity". It draws attention to the origins of equity in a "court of conscience" and serves to point to a very important distinction between law and equity, viz, the ability of equity to give conditional relief.