Interpretation of Statutes Notes | B.B.A. LL.B. (Five Years) Semester 7 | SPPU | munotes

Contents

Module 01 Introduction to Interpretation and role of General Clauses Act, 1897

1. What Interpretation Is, and Why It Is Needed 1
2. Context, Fringe Meaning and Beneficial Construction 5
3. Rules of Interpretation Are Not Rules of Law: the Courts' Function and Its Limits 13
4. Statutes: Meaning and Classification 17
5. Codifying and Consolidating Statutes 25
6. Interpretation of Substantive and Adjective Statutes 30
7. Interpretation of Directory and Mandatory Provisions 37
8. Enabling Statutes 44
9. Statutes Conferring Powers 49
10. Statutes Conferring Rights 54

Module 02 General Principles and Rules of Interpretation

1. The Literal Rule 59
2. The Golden Rule 66
3. The Mischief Rule, or the Rule in Heydon's Case 72
4. The Rule of Harmonious Construction 80
5. Secondary Rules: Noscitur a Sociis, Ejusdem Generis and Reddendo Singula Singulis 87
6. The Non Obstante Clause, and the Curative or Ganga Clause 96
7. Legal Fiction 102
8. Exact Meaning, Technical Words and Negative Words 107
9. Same Word, Same Meaning; and the Use of Different Words 113
10. Casus Omissus: Why a Court Does Not Fill a Gap 118

Module 03 Internal and External Aids to Interpretation

1. Understanding a Statute: The Parts of an Act 125
2. Internal Aids to the Interpretation of a Statute 133
3. The Titles, the Preamble, Headings and Marginal Notes as Aids 146
4. Definitions, Illustrations, Exceptions, Provisos and Saving Clauses 152
5. External Aids to the Interpretation of a Statute 157
6. Legislative History and Parliamentary Debates 166
7. Reports of Commissions 171
8. Statutes in Pari Materia, and Earlier and Later Statutes as Aids 176
9. Dictionaries and Contemporanea Expositio 180
10. Historical Facts, Later Developments and Foreign Decisions as Aids 185

Module 04 Approaches, Restraints and Presumption in Interpretation

1. What Judicial Activism Is 190
2. The Varieties of Judicial Activism 194
3. Judicial Activism and Judicial Restraint 198
4. Presumptions in Statutory Interpretation 202
5. Statutes Affecting the Jurisdiction of Courts 210
6. Statutes Are Presumed to Be Valid: the Presumption of Constitutionality 215
7. Statutes Are Territorial in Operation 220
8. Territorial Nexus 224
9. The Presumption against Violation of International Law 228
10. The Presumption against Violation of the Common Law 232
11. Statutes Affecting the State: Is the Crown or the State Bound? 235

Module 05 Modes of Interpretation of Constitution

1. The Principles of Constitutional Interpretation 239
2. The Constitution as a Living Document 244
3. The Role of the Courts in Constitutional Adjudication 248
4. The Seventh Schedule, and the Order of Precedence 252
5. Pith and Substance 257
6. Colourable Legislation 261
7. The Doctrine of the Occupied Field 265
8. Repugnancy, and Article 254 270
9. Distinguishing and Overruling: Precedent as Creativity 276
10. Article 141 and Stare Decisis in India 280
11. When the Supreme Court Departs from Itself 284
12. The Third Judges Case 288
13. The Philosophy of Judicial Review and Limited Government 292

Module 06 Construction of Penal, Taxing and Remedial Statute

1. The Interpretation of Taxing Statutes 296
2. Taxing Statutes, Penal Statutes and Welfare Legislation 302
3. The Strict Construction of Penal Statutes 310
4. Mens Rea in Statutory Offences, Vicarious Liability and Offences by Companies 315
5. Evasion of Statutes 321
6. Declaratory and Remedial Statutes 325
7. Interpretation by Subject Matter and Purpose: Restrictive and Beneficial Construction 331

Module 07 Commencement, Operation, Expiry and Repeal of Statute

1. Commencement of Statutes 339
2. The Operation of a Statute: In Time and in Place 346
3. Prospective Application and Retrospective Effect 349
4. Perpetual and Temporary Statutes, and the Effect of Expiry 356
5. The Power to Repeal, and the Presumption against Implied Repeal 362
6. Repeal of Statutes, and the Provisions Dealing with Repeal under the General Clauses Act 369