The document discusses the General Clauses Act of 1897. It provides definitions and rules of interpretation for central acts. The act aims to standardize language, provide uniform expression, and make provisions for interpretation. It covers topics like commencement and repeal of enactments, powers and functions, and interpretation of notifications, rules, and bye-laws issued under acts. The act also serves as a model for state general clauses acts and has been applied to interpreting the Indian constitution.

1. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
GENERAL CLAUSES ACT,
1897
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
SHELLEY E.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com Trademark Department
WEBSITE
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2. INTRODUCTION
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
• This act is not confined to a particular
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
branch of the law, but applies to all
branches.
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
• The General Clauses Act makes
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
provisions as to the construction of
General Acts and other laws of all-
EMAIL India application.
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3. OBJECT
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
• The Objects of the Act are several, namely,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
• (1) to shorten the language of central Acts;
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
• (2) to provide, as far as possible, for uniformity of
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road, expression in central Acts, by giving definitions of
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400 a series of terms in common use;
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
• (3) to state explicitly certain convenient rules for
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921 the construction and interpretation of Central
Acts; and
• (4) to guard against slips and oversights by
importing into every Act certain common form
EMAIL
clauses, which otherwise ought to be inserted
info@altacit.com expressly in every Central Act.
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4. CNTN…
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• The General Clauses Act, or, for that matter,
the Interpretation Act of any other country,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
codifies all the ‘rules’ of statutory
interpretation.
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
• The so- called rules of interpretation are
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
really in the nature of guide-lines, and are
not to be treated as mathematical formula.
• In fact, even the definitions contained in
the General Clauses Act apply only where
EMAIL the context does not otherwise require.
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5. STATE ACTS
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• Every state has its own General clauses
Act, which applies to State Acts.
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
• The lead in this matter was taken by the
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
former presidencies of Bombay, Bengal
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
and Madras.
• The earliest Act on the subject was
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
Bombay Act 10 of 1866. The first General
Clauses Act in Madras and Bengal was
enacted in 1867.
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6. CONT.
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
• The Central Act of 1897 has stood the test
of time. Its value in avoiding superfluity of
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
language in statutes has been commended
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
by courts.
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
• There can be no better testimony of its
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921 utility than the fact that courts have, on
considerations of equity, justice and good
conscience, thought fit to extend its
principles not only to subordinate
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legislation, but also to private documents.
WEBSITE
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7. CONT.
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
• The Act has also served as a model for all
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
States General Clauses Acts.
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
• The Act has been expressly applied to the
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
interpretation of the Constitution by Article
367 of the Constitution.
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8. Coming into operation of
enactments
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
• Sections 5 to 13
– Sections 5 to 13 of the Act contains
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
general rules of Construction, other than
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400 definitions.
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
– These sections fall under two broad
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921 groups.
– First, there are sections dealing with the
commencement and repeal of
enactments.
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– Secondly, there are sections which
WEBSITE provide for other general rules of
www.altacit.com

9. CONT.
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• The first group is the more important of the
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
two, in point of quality, because it deals with
BANGALORE the life of enactments.
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
• The second deals with certain matters of
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
detail, such as, time, distance, rate of duty,
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road, gender and number and the like.
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
• The Act does not contain any detailed
provisions relating to the use in interpretation
of marginal notes, headings, punctuations
and the like.
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10. REPEAL
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• Section 6 of the Act deals with repeal.
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
• Its main object is to reverse the common
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
law rule that a repeal obliterates the
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
statute for all purposes for the future.
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
• This section is one of the most important
sections in the Code
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11. OTHER PROVISIONS
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
• BODY OF PERSONS:
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
Whenever an enactment has to incorporate a
BANGALORE
body of person, it has to expressly – provide, in a
separate section, for many matters dealing with
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400 the effect of incorporation.
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921 • POWERS AND FUNCTIONARIES:
– Provisions as to power and functionaries are
contained in sections 14- 19 of the Act.
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12. CNTN…
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• Construction of notifications, etc., issued
under enactments
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
• Power to issue, to include power to add to,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
amend, vary or rescind notifications, orders,
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
rules, or bye-laws
• Making of rules or bye-laws and issuing of
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
orders between passing and
commencement of enactment
• Provisions applicable to making of rules or
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bye-laws after previous publication
WEBSITE
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13. CNTN…
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• Continuation of orders, etc, issued
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821 under enactments repealed and re-
enacted
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
• Recovery of fines
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
• Provisions as to offences punishable
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
under two or more enactments
• Meaning of service by post
EMAIL
• Citation of enactments
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14. CNTN…
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• Saving for previous enactment, rules
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821 any bye-laws
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
• Application of Act to Ordinances
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
• Application of Act to Acts made by
the governor-general
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
• Construction of references to Local
Government of a Province
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15. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
THANK YOU
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com