Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Iti Jhanji
Roll
Acknowledgement
Upon the successful completion of this project, I would wish to
thank everyone who has been a part of it. First and the foremost I
thank Prof. Harmeet Singh Sandhu, Director, Panjab
University Regional Centre, Ludhiana for providing me with
the esteemed opportunity of presenting a project report on
Interpretation of Statutes and Principles of Legislation and
Dr. Arti Puri for the clear concepts which she provided me about
the Consolidating and Codifying Statutes which rendered
great support during the drafting of this submission.
And lastly, my heartiest gratitude towards all the respected
authors of the numerous books I referred to, during the research
process for this submission. It is truly said, Books are our best
friends.
Table of Contents
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Codifying Statutes
Lord Herschell Rule
Features of Codifying Statutes
Construction of Codifying Statutes
Consolidating Statutes
Features of Consolidating Statutes
Construction of Consolidating Statutes
Differences between Codifying and Consolidating Statutes
Bibliography
Codifying Statutes
A Codifying Statute presents an orderly and an authoritative statement of the leading rules of law
on a given subject, whether those rules are to be found in a statue law or common law 1. The
1 Halsbury: Laws of England (4th Edition), Vol. 44, p. 489 (para 809). Codification
Systematizes Case-Law as well as Statuts; Paton: Jurisprudence, 3 rd Edition, p.
215.
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Codifying Statute exhaustively states the entire law on a particular subject, the draftsman
attempting to subsume in his code both the pre-existing statutory provision and also the common
law rules relating to the matter. These acts are passed to codify the existing law. The indication
that the Act is a Code will generally be found in the preamble, if any or in the long title 2. It has
been said that a Codifying Act is presumed not to alter the law unless a contrary intention
appears3. But the presumption will be of help only after the language of the Statute is first
construed according to normal canons of construction and is found to be of doubtful impact. For
example, the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
Similarly, in L. Janakirama Iyer vs. P.P.M. Nilkanto Iyer9, it was observed that a question of res
judicata in relation to a suit has to be decided solely on terms of Section 11 of Civil Procedure
Code and not on general principles of res judicata.
Consolidating Statutes
Consolidating Statute is a Statute which presents whole body of statutory law on the subject in
complete form repealing the former Statute. In other words, it is a Statute which consolidates
various laws on a particular subject at one place. It collects all statutory enactments on a specific
subject and gives them a shape of one Statute. The Companies Act is an example of a
Consolidating Statute.
According to Watson, the very object of consolidation is to collect the statutory law on a
particular subject and bring it down to date, in order that it may form a useful Code applicable to
the circumstances existing at that time when Consolidating Act was passed.
However, the rule for construction of Consolidating Act is to examine the language used in the
Act itself without any reference to repealed statutes. If Consolidating Act fails to provide
guidance as to its proper interpretation, the repealed enactments maybe looked to.
The presumption that same words employed in the same act at different places bear the same
meaning has no application to Consolidating Acts when it is shown that different provisions
where same words occur had their origin in different legislations. For arriving at correct
interpretation of a section in a Consolidating Statute, courts have consulted the earlier repealed
acts in which that section had its origin.
In Director of Public Prosecutions v. Schildkamp 10, the question related to the construction of
Section 332(3) of Companies Act, 1948. This section, prior to Consolidating Act coming into
force, was enacted in Companies Act, 1928 as Section 75 (3). Therefore Section 332 (3) was
construed in the light of the provisions of the original 1928 Act.
In General Electric Co. v. General Electric Co. Ltd. 11, in construing certain provisions of Trade
Marks Act, 1938, all the previous act beginning from 1875 and common law existing were
considered by the court.
Consolidating Statutes
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It presents whole body of statutory law on the subject repealing former statute.
Former statutes are repealed.
It is not self contained and complete.
Judges may refer to earlier state of law and the judicial decisions interpreting repealed
acts.
5. Presumption has no application.
10 (1969) 3 All ER 1640 (HL).
11 (1972) 2 All ER 507 (HL).
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BIBLIOGRAPHY