Course Outline

Course Name - Interpretation of Statutes

Course Code- BLAP62407
Term/Sem Number – IV Sem
Program Cohort - B.A/BB.A LL.B
School- School of Law

Prepared by Dr. Aditi Singh

Faculty Name
Email ID Aditi.singh@woxsen.edu.in
Brief Description and Relevance of the Course

Given the inherent challenges associated with the presence of ambiguous provisions in legislation, it is
imperative to conduct a thorough examination of the rules and principles governing the interpretation of
statutes. Legislation constitutes the primary source of law in contemporary society. Legislative bodies
formulate and enact laws following extensive deliberation. Undoubtedly, it is imperative that they
consider both the current and prospective requirements of the populace throughout this process.
What considerations must the legislature take into account when enacting laws? With the advent of
legislation, the interpretation of statutes has evolved into a mechanism through which the judiciary seeks
to discern the underlying intent of the statutes. Judicial interpretation encompasses the analysis and
elucidation of words, phrases, and expressions. In their endeavour to render the historical and extant
statutes contextually pertinent, courts have traditionally formulated specific rules, doctrines, and
principles of interpretation.
The judiciary assumes a significantly innovative role in this regard. What methodologies do courts
employ in the interpretation of statutes? To what extent have they achieved success in their strategic
endeavours? In light of the aforementioned issues and viewpoints, this paper has been constructed.

Programme ILOs Addressed

ILO Definition
1 Theory and Principle: Provides a foundational understanding of statutory interpretation theories,
including literal, purposive, and golden rules, to guide the application of laws effectively.
2 Research: Develops skills to analyze legislative histories, judicial precedents, and comparative
legal frameworks for interpreting complex statutory provisions.
3 Investigation: Encourages systematic examination of statutory language and context to uncover
legislative intent and resolve ambiguities.
4 Communications: Enhances the ability to articulate and argue interpretations effectively in legal
documents, courtroom settings, and academic discussions
5 Critical Thinking: Fosters the ability to analyze statutes critically, evaluate conflicting
interpretations, and propose reasoned solutions in legal challenges.
6 Global Perspective: Encourages understanding of international approaches to statutory
interpretation, enabling comparative insights and alignment with global legal standards.

Course ILOs
Course ILO Mapping to Programme ILO
CILO 1: To understand the principles to interpret 1,3,4,5
the laws and judgements.
CILO 2: To explain basic principles and 2,4,5
approaches of judicial bodies to interpret the legal
provisions.
CILO 3: To analyze legal theory and concepts 1,2,6
from multiple perspectives
CILO 4: To acquaint with the functioning of the 2,6
 various bodies to legislate on any subject, at
central,
state and local levels and the responses of these
systems in addressing the concerns of the
people
CILO 5: To analyze the interface of theory and 2,3,4,5
practice in implementation of rules and
judgements.

Syllabus

Module I- General

1.1 Nature and Kinds of Indian Laws: Statutory, Non-Statutory, Codified, Un-Codified, State-Made and
state recognized laws
1.2 Meaning and scope of ‘statute’ and classification of statute with reference to duration-method, object,
extent of application.
1.3 Meaning, Object and Scope of ‘Interpretation’ and ‘construction’
1.4 Basic sources of statutory interpretation
1.4.1 The general Clause Act, 1897: Nature, Scope and Relevance (with special reference to S.6 &
8 of the Act).
1.4.2 Theories of interpretation (utilitarianism, individualism, libertarianism).
Module II- Aids to Interpretation I

Internal aids (Title, Preamble, Heading and marginal notes, Sections and sub-sections, Punctuation marks,
Illustrative exceptions, Provisos and saving clauses, schedules, non-obstante clause)

Module III- Aids to Interpretation II

External aids (Dictionaries, Translations, Travaux preparatory, statutes in pari materia, contempororanea
exposition, Debates, inquiry commission reports, 183rd law commission report)

Module IV- General Theories and Rules of Interpretation

4.1 The function of the court is to interpret the law and not to legislate (Ronald Dworkin). - Judicial
activism vis-a-via Judicial overreach
4.2 Statute must be read as a whole
4.3 The Primary Rule
4.3.1 Literal Rule
4.3.2 Golden Rule
4.4 Mischief Rule of Construction
4.5 Construction Ut res magis valeat quam pereat
4.6 Rule of Purposive Construction
4.7 Rule of Strict Interpretation (Penal and Tax Statutes)
4.8 Rule of Harmonious Construction
Principle of Ejusdem Generis and Noscitur a sociis
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 I. Prescribed Legislation
The General Clauses Act, 1897

II. Case Laws

1. P. Ramachandra Rao v. State of Karnataka (2002) 4 SCC 578
2. Padma Sundara Rao v. State of Tamil Nadu (2002) 3 SCC 533
3. D.M., Aravali Golf Club v. Chander Hass, 2007 (14) SCALE 1
4. Inco Europe Ltd. v. First Choice Distribution (a firm), (2000) 2 All ER
5. Padma Sundara Rao v. State of Tamil Nadu (2002) 3 SCC 533
6. Bhatia International v. Bulk Trading S.A. (2002) 4 SCC 105
7. Tej Kiran Jain v. N. Sanjiva Reddy (1970) 2 SCC 272
8. Jugalkishore v. Raw Cotton Co. AIR 1955 SC 376
9. B.N. Mutto v. T.K. Nandi (Dr.) (1979) 1 SCC 361
10. Ramavtar Budhaiprasad v. Assistant Sales Tax Officer, AIR 1961 SC 1325
11. State of West Bengal v. Washi Ahmed (1977) 2 SCC 246
12. M.V. Joshi v. M.U. Shimpi, AIR 1961 SC 1494
13. Union of India v. Delhi Cloth & General Mills, AIR 1963 SC 791
14. Matthews v. Dobbins [1963] 1 ALL ER 417
15. Lalita Kumari v. State of U.P. (2014) 1 SCC (Cri.) 524
16. State of Madhya Pradesh v. Narayan Singh & Ors., AIR 1989 SC 1789
17. Lee v. Knapp (1967) 2 Q.B.442
18. G. Narayanaswami v. Pannersevan (1972) 3 SCC 717
19. Union of India v. Filip Tiago De Gama of Vedem Vasco De Gama, AIR 1980 SC 981: (1990) 1
SCC 277
20. Nokes v. Doncaster Amalgamated Collieries (1940) AC 1014
21. Heydon’s case (1584) 3 Co. Rep. 7
22. R.M.D.C. v. Union of India, AIR 1957 SC 628
23. Commissioner of Income-tax. v. Smt. Sodra Devi, AIR 1957 SC 832
24. Utkal Contractors & Joinery (P) Ltd. v. State of Orissa, AIR 1987 SC 1454
25. Smith v. Hughes (1960) 1 W.L.R.830
26. Avtar Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1955 SC 1107
27. Corporation of Calcutta v. Liberty Cinema, AIR 1965 SC 661
28. M. Pentiah v. Muddala Veeramallapa, AIR 1961 SC 1107
29. Rev. Stainislaus v. State of M.P., AIR 1977 SC 108
30. S.R. Chaudhuri v. State of Punjab (2001) 7 SCC 126
31. All India Reporter Karamchari Sangh v. All India Reporters Ltd., AIR 1988 SC 1325 154
32. State of Mysore v. R.V. Bidap, AIR 1973 SC 255: (1974) 3 SCC 337
33. Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State of Punjab (1980) 2 SCC 565
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 34. Bowers v. Gloucester Corporation (1963) 1 Q.B.881 35. George Banerji v. Emperor (1917) 18 Cr
L J 45
35. The Empress Mills, Nagpur v. The Municipal Committee, Wardha, AIR 1958 SC 341 174
36. A.S. Sulochana v. C. Dharmalingam, AIR 1987 SC 242
37. McDowell and Co. Ltd. v. Commercial Tax Officer (1985) 3 SCC 230
38. Standard Chartered Bank and Ors v. Directorate of Enforcement, (2005) 4 SCC 530
39. R. v. Oakes (1959) 2 All ER
40. M/s Achal Industries v. State of Karnataka, AIR 2019 SC 1653
41. Sri Venkataramana Devaru v. State of Mysore, AIR 1958 SC 255
42. K.M. Nanavati v. State of Bombay, AIR 1961 SC 112
43. Sirsilk Ltd. v. Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, AIR 1964 SC 160: (1964) 2 SCR 448
44. Speedline Agencies v. T. Stanes & Co. Ltd. (2010) 6 SCC 257
45. The Remington Rand of India Ltd. v. The Workmen, AIR 1968 SC 224: (1968) 1 SCR 164
46. Calcutta Municipal Corporation v. East India Hotels Ltd., AIR 1996 SC 419
47. M/s Siddeshawari Cotton Mills Pvt. Ltd. v. U.O.I., A.I.R. 1989 S.C. 1029
48. Oswal Agro Mills Ltd. v. CCE, 1993 Supp (3) SCC 716
49. Ashbury Railway Carriage & Iron Co. v. Riche (1875) LR 7 HL 653
50. Brownsea Havens Properties v. Poole Corpn. (1958) 1 All ER 205
51. Biswambhar Singh v. State of Orissa, AIR 1954 SC 139: 1954 SCR 842 229
52. M/s. Hiralal Rattanlal v. State of U.P. (1973) 1 SCC 216 236
53. Manoharlal v. State of Punjab, AIR 1961 SC 418: (1961) 2 SCR 343
54. Shashikant Laxman Kale v. Union of India, AIR 1990 SC 2114: (1990) 4 SCC 366 247
55. S.R. Chaudhary v. State of Punjab (2001) 7 SCC 126
56. State of Mysore v. R.V. Bidap, AIR 1973 SC 255
57. Vishaka & Ors. v. State of Rajasthan & Ors., AIR 1997 SC 3011
58. Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, AIR 2018 SC 4321

III. Journal Readings

1. Carl Felsenfeld, “The Plain English Movement: Panel Discussion”, available at:
https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1475&context=faculty_scholarship.
2. The Drafting of Law in Plain Language Bill, 2018, available at:
http://164.100.47.4/billstexts/lsbilltexts/asintroduced/2322as.pdf

IV. Reading Material Recommended

Code Textbook/Article/Report Name Edition/Year/ CILO Mapped

Link
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 1 G.P.Singh, Principles of Statutory (2016) 1,2,3,4,5
Interpretation, (7th Edition) 2016, Wadhwa,
Nagpur.
2 P. St. Langan (Ed.). Maxwell on The (1976) 2,3,5
Interpretation of Statutes (1976)

3 N.M.Tripathi, Bombay K.Shanmukham, (1997) 4,5

N.S.Bindras's Interpretation of Statutes,
(1997) The Law Book Co. Allahabad.

4 V.Sarathi, Interpretation of Statutes, (2015) (2015) 2,3,5

Eastern, Lucknow
5 D.N. Mathur, Central Law Publications, (2020) 1,4,5
Interpretation of Statutes, 2020
6 P.M Bakshi, Orient Pub., Interpretation of (2008) 3,4,5
Statutes, (2008)
7 Jeremy Bentham, Theory of Legislation, 5
Wadhwa, Nagpur.

Session-Wise Topics and Reading/References

Session
Reading
Intended CIL
Sn. Topic Material
Learning O
Code
Outcome
1 Nature of Indian Laws: Statutory and Non-Statutory CILO 1,2,3 1
2 Nature of Indian Laws: Codified and Un-Codified CILO 4,5 1, 2, 3
3 State-Made and State-Recognized Laws CILO 1,2,3 1, 2, 3
4 Meaning and Scope of 'Statute' CILO 4,5 1, 2, 3
5 Classification of Statutes Based on Duration CILO 4,5 1, 2, 3
6 Classification of Statutes Based on Method CILO 1,2,3 1, 2, 3
7 Classification of Statutes Based on Object CILO 1,2,3 1, 2, 3
8 Classification of Statutes Based on Extent of Application CILO 4,5 1, 2, 3
1,2,3,4,5,
9 Meaning, Object, and Scope of 'Interpretation' CILO 4,5 6
1,2,3,4,5,
10 Meaning, Object, and Scope of 'Construction' CILO 4,5 6
1,2,3,4,5,
11 Basic Sources of Statutory Interpretation CILO 4,5 6
1,2,3,4,5,
12 The General Clauses Act, 1897: Nature and Scope CILO 4,5 6
Relevance of the General Clauses Act (Special Reference to 1,2,3,4,5,
13 Section 6) CILO 4,5 6

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 Relevance of the General Clauses Act (Special Reference to CILO 1,2,3,4,5,
14 Section 8) 1,2,3,4,5 6
CILO 1,2,3,4,5,
15 Theories of Interpretation: Utilitarianism 1,2,3,4,5 6
CILO 1,2,3,4,5,
16 Theories of Interpretation: Individualism 1,2,3,4,5 6
1,2,3,4,5,
17 Theories of Interpretation: Libertarianism CILO 1,2,3 6
1,2,3,4,5,
18 Tutorial CILO 1,2,3 6
CILO 1,2,3,4,5,
19 Title as an Aid to Interpretation 1,2,3,4,5 6
CILO 1,2,3,4,5,
20 Preamble as an Aid to Interpretation 1,2,3,4,5 6
CILO 1,2,3,4,5,
21 Headings and Marginal Notes as Aids 1,2,3,4,5 6
1,2,3,4,5,
22 Sections and Subsections as Aids CILO 2,3 6
1,2,3,4,5,
23 Use of Punctuation Marks in Interpretation CILO 2,3 6
1,2,3,4,5,
24 Illustrations and Exceptions as Aids CILO 4,5 6
25 Provisos and Saving Clauses as Aids CILO 2,3 1,3,5,6,7
26 Schedules as Aids to Interpretation CILO 4,5 1,3,5,6,7
27 Non-Obstante Clauses as Aids CILO 1,4 1,3,5,6,7
28 Tutorial CILO 4,5 1,3,5,6,7
29 Dictionaries as Aids to Interpretation CILO 2,3 1,3,5,6,7
30 Use of Translations in Interpretation CILO 2,3 1,3,5,6,7
31 Travaux Preparatoires as Aids CILO 4,5 1,3,5,6,7
32 Statutes in Pari Materia as Aids CILO 4,5 1,3,5,6,7
33 Contemporanea Expositio as an Aid CILO 2,3 1,3,5,6,7
34 Parliamentary Debates as Aids CILO 4,5 1,3,5,6,7
35 Inquiry Commission Reports as Aids CILO 4,5 1,3,5,6,7
36 Analysis of the 183rd Law Commission Report CILO 2,3 1,3,5,6,7
37 Tutorial CILO 2,3 1,3,5,6,7
Function of the Court: Interpretation vs. Legislation (Ronald
38 Dworkin) CILO 2,3 1,3,5,6,7
39 Judicial Activism vs. Judicial Overreach CILO 2,3 1,3,5,6,7
CILO
40 Rule: Statute Must Be Read as a Whole 1,2,3,4,5 1,3,5,6,7
CILO 3,4,
41 The Primary Rule: Literal Rule 5 1,3,5,6,7

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 CILO 3,4,
42 The Primary Rule: Golden Rule 5 1,3,5,6,7
CILO
43 Mischief Rule of Construction 1,2,3,4,5 1,3,5,6,7
CILO 3,4,
44 Application of the Mischief Rule 5 1,3,5,6,7
CILO
45 Principle: Ut Res Magis Valeat Quam Pereat 1,2,3,4,5 1,3,5,6,7
46 Rule of Purposive Construction CILO 1,4 1,3,5,6,7
47 Rule of Strict Interpretation: Penal Statutes CILO 2,3 3,4,5,6
48 Rule of Strict Interpretation: Tax Statutes CILO 2,3 3,4,5,6
49 Rule of Harmonious Construction CILO 2,3 3,4,5,6
50 Application of Harmonious Construction CILO 1,4 3,4,5,6
CILO
51 Principle of Ejusdem Generis 1,2,3,4,5 3,4,5,6
52 Applications of Ejusdem Generis CILO 1,4 3,4,5,6
53 Principle of Noscitur a Sociis CILO 5 3,4,5,6
54 Applications of Noscitur a Sociis CILO 5 3,4,5,6
55 Tutorial CILO 5 3,4,5,6
CILO
56 Case Studies on Literal Rule 1,2,3,4,5 3,4,5,6
CILO
57 Case Studies on Golden Rule 1,2,3,4,5 3,4,5,6
CILO
58 Case Studies on Mischief Rule 1,2,3,4,5 3,4,5,6
59 Case Studies on Purposive Construction CILO 5 3,4,5,6
CILO
60 Application of Strict Interpretation in Criminal Cases 1,2,3,4,5 3,4,5,6
61 Application of Strict Interpretation in Taxation Cases CILO 2,3 3,4,5,6
62 Judicial Decisions on Harmonious Construction CILO 2,3 3,4,5,6
63 Practical Exercises: Interpretation Using Internal Aids CILO 2,3 3,4,5,6
CILO
64 Practical Exercises: Interpretation Using External Aids 1,2,3,4,5 3,4,5,6
65 Tutorial CILO 1,4 3,4,5,6
66 Role of International Conventions in Interpretation CILO 1,4 3,4,5,6
67 Impact of Technology and AI on Statutory Interpretation CILO 5 3,4,5,6
68 Interpretation in the Context of Fundamental Rights CILO 5 3,4,5,6
CILO
69 Interpretation in Administrative Law 1,2,3,4,5 5,6,7
CILO
70 Interpretation in Environmental Law 1,2,3,4,5 5,6,7
71 Cross-Jurisdictional Approaches to Statutory Interpretation CILO 4,5 5,6,7

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 72 Revision of Internal Aids to Interpretation CILO 4,5 5,6,7
73 Revision of External Aids to Interpretation CILO 4,5 5,6,7
CILO
74 Revision of General Theories and Rules of Interpretation 1,2,3,4,5 5,6,7
Comprehensive Assessment: Practical and Theoretical
75 Applications CILO 5 5,6,7

Performance Evaluation Components for the Course

Session No. Marks Evaluation Form CILO

Continuous Evaluation/Internal Assessment
18 20 Tutorial 1,2,3
55 20 Case Analysis 5
65 20 Legislative Writing 1,4
End Term Examination
After Course CLIO 1,2,3,4,5
50 End Term
Completion

Attendance & Punctuality

Learning is an interactive process. Students are expected to be present in all the classes. Absence is only
appropriate in exceptional circumstances. Voluntary activities are never valid reasons for missing any
class.
Students may refer to the student handbook for regulations covering attendance.
Students who do not meet attendance requirements will not be permitted to write the end term
examination and will be required to repeat the course with the next batch of students.
Late arrival is disruptive to the learning environment; students are expected to be in class before the
scheduled commencement time. Students arriving for class after the scheduled commencement time will
be turned away unless they have a valid reason to be permitted to attend.

Copyright
The content provided by the faculty in the class is copy-righted. Students are instructed not to distribute
or share content used during courses with external entities.

Student Code of Ethics

Each student enrolled in this course accepts personal responsibility to uphold and defend academic
integrity and to promote an atmosphere in which all individuals may flourish. The Students’ Code of
Ethics strives to set a standard of honest behaviour that reflects well on students and the school. All
students enrolled in these courses are expected to follow the Students’ Code of Ethics contained in the
student handbook. Unethical and unfair practices adopted by students may lead to penalties such as
having to repeat the course or having the student’s enrollment cancelled.
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