Interpretation of Statutes and Principles of Legislation
Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya · LL.B. Semester 4 · LAW-CC-415
Unit I — Interpretation of Statutes
Meaning of the term ‘Statutes’, classification of statutes · The duties of a Judge and legislature. · Purpose of Interpretation of statutes. · Utility of rules of interpretation. · Commencement, Repeal of statutes. · 2. Aids to Interpretation · a) Internal aids · Title · Preamble · Heading and marginal notes · Punctuation marks · Illustrations, exceptions, provisions and saving clauses. · Schedules · Non-obstinate clause b). External aids · Dictionaries · Translations · Travaux Preparatoires · Stare decisis · Statutes in Para material · Parliamentary History · Foreign Judgments
- Statutes (Enactments) — Meaning and Classification
- Commencement of Statutes — Prospective application, Retrospective effect, Repeal of Statutes, Provisions dealing with repeal under the General Clauses Act
- Legislative Material — Internal Aids — Parts of a statute and their function in interpretation of a statute — Short and long titles, preamble, schedules, marginal headings, parts, and their captions, chapters and their
- Judicial material — Ratio and guidelines of courts in the following cases, minority, and majority judgements
Unit II — Rules of Statutory Interpretation
a) Primary Rules · Literal rule · Golden rule · Mischief rule (Rule in the Heydon’s case) · Rule of harmonious construction · b) Secondary Rules · Noscitur - a - sociis · Ejusdem generic · Reddendo singular singulis · 2. Presumptions in Statutory Interpretation · Statutes are valid · Statutes are territorial in operation · Presumption as to jurisdiction · Presumption against of violation of International Law · Prospective operation of statutes
- Rules of interpretation of Statutes — Literal, Mischief and Golden rule of interpretation
- Presumptions in Statutory interpretation — Statutes are valid, Statutes are territorial in operation, Presumption as to jurisdiction, Presumption against what is inconvenient or absurd, Presumption against intending injustice, Presumption against impairing obligations or permitting advantage from one's own wrong
Unit III — Maxims of Statutory Interpretation
Contemporance expositioest fortissive in lege · Expressio uniusest exclusion alterius · Generalia specialibus non derogant · Ut res magis valet quam pereat · 2. Interpretation with reference to the subject matter and purpose · Restrictive and beneficial construction · Taxing Statutes · Penal Statutes · Interpretation of directory and mandatory provisions
Unit IV — Principles of Constitutional Interpretation
Harmonious construction · Doctrine pith and substance · Colourable legislation · Doctrine of eclipse · Doctrine of Severability · Doctrine of repugnancy
Unit V — Principles of Legislation
Law- making–the legislature, executive and the judiciary · Principle of utility · Distinction between morals and legislation