Interpretation of Statutes

Unit I — Process of Law, Legislation and its interpretation

1.1. Concept of Law, Legislation and Statutes · 1.2. Legislative powers and process · 1.3. Judicial Law Making – Judicial Activism and Judicial Restraint · 1.2. Interpretation – Meaning, Purpose and Importance · 1.3. Interpretation and Construction

• Meaning of Law, Rules, Regulation and Policy
• Sources of law — custom and treaty, legislation, precedent
• Statutes (Enactments) — Meaning and Classification
• Discipline of Law: Part Three
• The Interpretation of Statutes

Unit II — RULES OF STATUTORY INTERPRETATION

2.1. Primary Rules of Interpretation · - Grammatical rule of interpretation · - Golden rule of interpretation · - Mischief rule of interpretation · 2.2. Secondary Rules of Interpretation · - Nosctiur a sociis · - Ejusdem generis · - Reddindo singula singulis · - Law to be read as a whole · - Predominance of Legislative intent

• Rules of interpretation of Statutes — Literal, Mischief and Golden rule of interpretation
• The Interpretation of Statutes
• 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 — AIDS TO INTERPRETATION OF STATUTES

3.1. Internal aids to interpretation of Statutes · - Title · - Preamble · - Statement of Object and Reasons · - Headings and marginal notes · - Sections and Sub-sections · - Punctuation marks · - Illustrations, Exceptions, Provisos and Saving clauses · - Schedules · - Non-obstinate clause · 3.2. External aids to interpretation of Statutes · - Dictionaries · - Translations · - Debates, Inquiry Commission Reports and Law Commission Reports · - Travaux Preparatories · - Statutes in pari materia- Meaning, importance and interpretation · - Contemporanea exposito

• 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
• The Interpretation of Statutes

Unit IV — PRESUMPTIONS IN STATUTORY INTERPRETATION

4.1. Presumptions as to validity of Statutes · 4.2. Presumptions as to territorial nexus of statutes · 4.3. Presumption that statutes are consistent with International Law · 4.4. Presumption as to prospective operation of Statutes · 4.5. Presumption that Legislature knows Law and Judicial decisions · 4.6. Legislature does not intend what is inconvenient and unreasonable

• 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
• Commencement of Statutes — Prospective application, Retrospective effect, Repeal of Statutes, Provisions dealing with repeal under the General Clauses Act

Unit V — CONSIDERATIONS IN STATUTORY INTERPRETATION

5.1. Considerations of Absurdity and Futility · 5.2. Considerations of Reasonableness · 5.3. Considerations of Injustice and Hardship · 5.4. Considerations of Inconvenience · 5.5. Considerations of consequences

• 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 VI — MAXIMS OF STATUTORY INTERPRETATION

6.1. Delegatus non potest delegare · 6.2. Expreesio unis exclusion ulterius · 6.3. Generalia specialibus non derogant · 6.4. Utres valet portiur quam pareat · 6.5. Expressum facit cessare tacitum

• Legal Maxims — Actus de nemini facit injuriam

Unit VII — INTERPRETATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES

7.1. Doctrine of Harmonious Construction · 7.2. Doctrine of Pith and Substance · 7.3. Doctrine of Colourable Legislation · 7.4. Doctrine of Repugnancy · 7.5. Doctrine of Ancillary Powers · 7.6. Doctrine of Occupied Field · 7.7. Doctrine of Residuary Powers

Unit VIII — INTERPRETATION WITH REFERENCE TO SUBJECT MATTER AND

PURPOSE: · 8.1. With reference to Subject Matter – · - Penal Statutes · - Taxing Statutes · - Welfare Legislations · 8.2. With reference to Purpose – · - Substantive and Procedural Laws · - Directory and Mandatory Provisions · - Codifying and Consolidating Statutes · - Enabling Statutes - Conferring Rights · - Conferring Powers

• Statutes (Enactments) — Meaning and Classification
• The Interpretation of Statutes