Interpretation of Statutes

Goa University · LL.B. Semester 3 · LLB-234

Unit 1 — Basic and General Principles of Interpretation:

1. Meaning, need and object of Interpretation. · 2. Intention of Legislature. · 3. Literal Rule of Interpretation. · 4. Mischief Rule of Interpretation · 5. Golden Rule of Interpretation

Unit 2 — Aids to Construction:

1. Internal Aids to Construction · 2. External Aids to Construction

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 3 — Other Principles of Construction:

1. Beneficial construction · 2. Restrictive construction · 3. Strict construction · 4. Harmonious construction · 5. Equitable construction · 6. Construction in Bona partem · 7. Construction in Pari materia · 8. Construction to prevent evasion or abuse · 9. Statute to be read as a whole · 10. Treatment of General Words

Rules of interpretation of Statutes — Literal, Mischief and Golden rule of interpretation

Unit 4 — Maxims:

1. Casus omissus · 2. Contemporanea Expositio · 3. Ejusdem Generis · 4. Noscitur a sochiis · 5. Ut res magis valeat quam pareat · 6. Generalia specialibus non derogant · 7. Expressio unius est exclusio alterius · 8. Ex viscerabus actus · 9. Reddedo Singula Singulis

Unit 5 — Presumptions:

1. Presumption in favour of constitutionality of statute · 2. Presumption against ousting established jurisdiction · 3. Presumption against exceeding territorial nexus · 4. Presumption against ouster of jurisdiction of courts · 5. Presumption against changes in common law · 6. Presumption against including what is inconvenient or unreasonable · 7. Presumption against intending injustice or absurdity · 8. Presumption against retrospective operation of law · 9. Presumption against violation of international law

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 6 — Classification of Statutes and General Clauses Act:

1. Classification of Statutes: · a. Imperative and Directive Statutes · b. Codifying and Consolidating Statutes · 2. General Clauses Act: · a. Definitions Sec.3 · b. Commencement of Acts · c. Repeal · d. Commencement and Termination of Time · e. Computation of time · f. Measurement of distances · g. Duty to be taken on pro-rata · h. Gender and Number · i. Powers conferred · j. Power to appoint