Principles Of Statutory Interpretation Gp Singh Page
G.P. Singh begins with the foundational principle that the first and foremost rule of interpretation is the . He asserts that the duty of the court is to give the words of a statute their natural, ordinary, and grammatical meaning. The legislature is presumed to know the meaning of the words it uses, and if the language is clear and unambiguous, the court must apply it, even if the result is harsh or absurd.
One section cannot be used to defeat another unless reconciliation is entirely impossible.
The meaning of an unclear word may be judged by the company it keeps (its surrounding words). principles of statutory interpretation gp singh
The text also covers linguistic formulas used to decode specific word groupings:
Conversely, laws aimed at social welfare, labor protection, or environmental conservation must receive a liberal, progressive interpretation. The court must stretch the language within permissible limits to ensure that the socio-economic benefits intended by the legislature actually reach the target population. Constitutional Interpretation The legislature is presumed to know the meaning
G.P. Singh details the parts of a statute that can be used to interpret ambiguous words. These are "internal" because they exist within the statute itself.
A defining feature of G.P. Singh's treatise is its highly structured breakdown of how a researcher or judge can look inside and outside a statute to uncover its meaning. Internal Aids The text also covers linguistic formulas used to
What remedy has the parliament appointed to cure the disease? What is the true reason for the remedy?
This section delves into the primary rules of construction, including the Literal Rule, the Golden Rule, and the Mischief Rule (or Rule in Heydon's Case ), which form the bedrock of statutory interpretation.