Interpretation of Statutes and Principles of Legilstation

Unit I

—Statute-Meaning and Classification · —General Principles of Interpretation: Literal or Grammatical Interpretation: · —The Mischief Rule · —The Golden Rule · —Harmonious Construction, Statute should be read as a whole · —Maxims: · -Ut Res Magis Valeat Quam Pereat · -Expressio Unius Est Exclusio Alterius · -Noscitur A Socials · -Ejusdem Generis · -Contemporanea Expositio eat optima Et fortissima in lege · Judgments: · 1. Union of India V. Rajiv Kumar, AIR 2003 SC 2917 · 2. Nathi Devi V. Radha Devi, AIR 2005 SC 648

• Rules of interpretation of Statutes — Literal, Mischief and Golden rule of interpretation
• Statutes (Enactments) — Meaning and Classification

Unit II

Internal Aids to Construction-Short Title · —Long Title · —Preamble · —Marginal Notes · —Headings · —Definition or Interpretation clauses · —Provisos · —Illustrations · —Exceptions and Saving Clauses · —Explanations · —Schedules and Punctuation · Judgments: · 1. State of Maharashtra V. Indian Medical Association, AIR 2002 SC 302 · 2. R. Krishnaiah V. State of A.P., AIR 2005 AP 10

• 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

Unit III

External Aids to Interpretation-Dictionaries · —Use of foreign decisions · —Text Books · —Historical Background · —Legislative History · —Administrative convincing and Commercial Practice · Judgments: · 1. A.K. Gopal V. State of Madras, AIR 1950 SC 27 · 2. Aruna Roy V. Union of India, AIR 2002 SC 3176

Unit IV

—Construction of Taxing Statutes · —Remedial and Penal Statutes · —Liberal Construction of Remedial Statutes · —Strict Construction of Penal Statutes · —Mens Rea in statutory offences · —Vicarious responsibility in statutory offences and Mens Rea under the Indian · Penal Code. · Judgments: · 1. Ashwini Kumar Singh V. U.P. Public Service Commission, AIR 2003 SC 2661 · 2. Iqbal Singh V. Meenakshi, AIR 2005 SC 2119

• 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