DAMODARAM SANJIVYYA NATIONAL LAW SCHOOL

VISAKHAPATNAM
COURSE OUTLINE: Vth Semester
Session: 08 Jul 2016- Nov 2016

Title of the Subject: Interpretation of Statute

Name of the Faculty: Col Sarvjit Singh, Veteran.

Total No of Hours: 60-65

AIM:
To enthuse skill-development in students to master the intricacies of expressio unius
est exclusio alterius or nositur a sociis (The express mention of one person, thing, or
consequence implies the exclusion of all others. Variation: Expressium facit cessare
tacitum: What is expressed puts an end to what is implied).

OBJECT:
The understanding and correct application of the Principles of Statutory Interpretation.

PROPOSED METHODOLOGY
1. Module 1: Introduction and Understanding: (06 Hours)
a. The term Interpretation of Statute
b. Difference between Interpretation and Construction
c. Statute and classification
d. Judge made law Precedent
e. Stare Decisis and SCs power to over- rule its own decision

2.

Module 2: Basic Sources: (04 Hours)

a. The General Clauses Act,1897
b. Definition Clauses in various legislations
c. Theoretical or Ideological application of interpretation- Judicial Activism &
Judicial Restraint.

3.

Module 3: Basic Considerations in Interpretation: (04 Hours)

a. Basic Principles
b. Purposive construction
c. Strict or Liberal Construction
d. Harmonious Construction
e. Beneficial Construction

4.

Module 4: General Principles of Interpretation: (20 Hours)

a. Rules: Literal- Golden Mischief.
b. Harmonious construction- Noscitur a sociis; ejusdem generis; reddendo
singula singulis
c. Presumptions in statutory interpretation
d. Maxims of statutory interpretation

5.

Module 5: Tools and Techniques: (06 Hours)

a. Internal aids
b. External aids
c. Law Commission reports
d. International law and Human Rights
e. Statute in pari materia

6.

Module 6: Interpretation wrt the Subject matter: (06 Hours)

a. Taxing Statute
b. Penal Statute
c. Welfare legislation
d. Codifying and Consolidating statutes

7.

Module 7: Constitutional Interpretation: (12 Hours)

a. Difference
b. Literal interpretation
c. Harmonious construction
d. Referring Constituent Assembly debates
e. Pith and Substance
f. Occupied Field
g. DPSP as source as source of Constitutional interpretation.

8.

Module 8: Delegated Legislation: (02 Hours)

a. delegates non potest delegare
b. Conditional legislation or ancillary legislation.

Cases
1. AA Hajee Muniuddin v. Indian Railways, AIR (1993) SC 361.
2. Ashok Kumar Thakur v. UoI, (2008) 6 SCC 1.
3. Avtar Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1965 SC 666.
4. Bengal Immunity Co v. State of Bihar, AIR 1955 SC 66.
5. Calcutta Gas Company (P) Ltd v. State of West Bengal, AIR (1962) SC 1044.
6. Donoghue v. Stevenson, (1932) AC 85.
7. Gopal Vinayak Godse v. State of Maharastra. AIR (1961) SC 600.
8. Hamard Dawakhana v. UoI, AIR 1960 SC 554.
9. Heydons Case (1584) 76 ER 637; (1584) 3 Co Rep 7.
10. IMA v. VP Santha, AIR 1996 SC 550.
11. KM Nanavati v. State of Bombay, AIR 1961 SC 112.
12. Kehar Singh v. State. AIR (1980) SC 1883.
13. Kesarwani Zarda Bhandar v. State of UP, AIR (2008) SC 2733
14. Kisan Triambak Kothula v. State of Maharastra.(1977) 1 SCC 300
15. Lee v. Knapp (1967) 2 QB 442.
16. M Pentiah v. Veeramallappa, AIR 1961 SC 850.
17. Marbury v. Madison, 5 US 137 (1803).
18. Motipur Zamindari Co Ltd v. State of Bihar, AIR (1962) SC 660.
19. Nandini Satpathi v. PL Dhani, AIR 1978 SC 1023.
20. Padma Sundara Rao v. State of Tamil Nadu (2002) 3 SCC 533.
21. R v. Allen (1872) LR CCR 367.
22. R v. Burah, (1878) UKPC 1; (1873) 3 AC 889.
23. R v. Fellows (1997) 2 All ER 548 CA.
24. R v. Oakes (1959) 2 All ER 92.
25. R v. Sigsworth, (1935) 1 Ch 98.
26. R v. Tolson, (1889) 23 QBD 168.
27. RMD Chamarbaugwalla v. UoI. AIR (1957) SC 628.
28. RS Nayak v. AR Antulay. AIR 1984 SC 684
29. Ramavtar Budhaiprasad v. Assistant Sales Tax Officer AIR 1961 SC 1325.
30. Reema Aggarwal v. Anupam, AIR (2004) SC 1418.
31. Rev Stainislaus v. State of MP, AIR 1977 SC 108.
32. SR Bommai v. UoI. AIR 1994 SC 1918.
33. SR Chaudhuri v. State of Punjab, (2001) 7 SCC 126.
34. Saroj Rani v. Sudharsahan Kumar, AIR 1984 SC 1562.
35. Spring Meadows Hospital v. H Ahluwalia, AIR 1998 SC 1801.
36. Smith v. Hughes. 1960 (2) All ER 859
37. State of Gujrat v. Kansara Maniram Bhkhalal, AIR (1964) SC 1893.
38. Supreme Court Employees v. UoI. AIR (1999) SC 334.
39. T Sareetha v. T V Subbaiah ,AIR 1983 AP 356.
40. Thampanor Ravi v. Charipara Ravi & Ors, (1998) 8 SCC 74.
41. The Empress Mills, Nagpur v. The Municipal Committee, Warda, AIR 1958 SC
341.
42. Visakha v. State of Rajasthan, AIR 1997 SC 3011.

Books
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Avtar Singh & Harpreet Kaur, Interpretation of Statutes, LexisNexis.

Dr T Bhattacharya, Interpretation of Statute, Central Law Agency.
Justice G P Singh, Principles of Statutory Interpretation, Lexis-Nexis India.
P St J Langan, Maxwell on The Interpretation of Statutes, LexisNexis
Vepa P Sarathi, Interpretation of Statute, Eastern Book Co.

Reference Books
1. Justice Markandey Katju, Mimansa Rules of Interpretation, Modern Law
Publications.
2. NS Bindra,
3. SGG Edgar, Craies on Statute Law, Sweet & Maxwell Ltd.
4. William N Eskridge, Dynamic Statutory Interpretation, Universal Law.