Interpretation of Statutes
Osmania University · LL.B. Semester 4 · P-III
Unit I
Meaning and Definition of Statutes · Classification of Statues · Meaning and Definition of Interpretation · General Principles of Interpretation · Rules of Construction under the General Clauses Act, 1897
Unit II
Grammatical Rule of Interpretation · Golden Rule of Interpretation · Rule of Interpretation to avoid mischief · 60th Report of Law Commission of India, 1974 and 183rd Report of Law Commission of India,2002 on General Clauses Act,1892
Unit III
Interpretation of Penal Statutes and Statutes of Taxation · Beneficial Construction · Construction to avoid conflict with other provisions · Doctrine of Harmonious Construction
Unit IV
External Aids to Interpretation · Statement of objects of legislation, Legislative debates, identification of purpose sought to be achieved through legislation · Internal Aids to Interpretation · Preamble, title, interpretation clause, marginal notes, explanations etc · Presumptions
- 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
- 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 V
Effect of Repeal · Effect of amendments to statutes · Conflict between parent legislation and subordinate legislation · Methods of interpreting substantive and procedural laws