Interpretation of Statutes
SNDT Women's University · LL.B. Semester 6 · 6001
Unit I — Module I (1 credit): Aids to Interpretation
Meaning and purpose of interpretation · Internal aids: title, preamble, headings and marginal notes, sections, punctuation, illustrations/exceptions/provisos/saving clauses, schedules, non obstante clause · External aids: dictionaries, translations, travaux preparatoires, statutes in pari materia, contemporanea expositio, parliamentary debates and commission reports, text books
- Statutes (Enactments) — Meaning and Classification
- 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 — Module II (1 credit): Rules of Statutory Interpretation
Primary rules: literal, golden, mischief, harmonious construction · Secondary rules: noscitur a sociis, ejusdem generis, reddendo singula singulis · Presumptions in statutory interpretation
- 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
- The Interpretation of Statutes
Unit III — Module III (1 credit): Maxims; Subject Matter and Purpose
Maxims of statutory interpretation · Interpretation with reference to subject matter and purpose: restrictive and beneficial construction, taxing, penal and welfare statutes, directory and mandatory provisions, enabling statutes
Unit IV — Module IV (1 credit): Constitutional Interpretation; General Clauses Act
Principles of constitutional interpretation: harmonious construction, pith and substance, colourable legislation, ancillary powers, occupied field, residuary power, prospective overruling, repugnancy, eclipse · General Clauses Act