Justice Singh categorizes the approach into three foundational rules. 1. The Literal Rule
For the common usage of words at the time of enactment.
Statutory interpretation is the process by which courts determine the meaning of a law. Justice G.P. Singh emphasized that the objective is always to discover the "intent of the Legislature." principles of statutory interpretation gp singh high quality
Used when the literal meaning leads to absurdity or injustice. Justice Singh suggests a slight departure from literalism to avoid results that the legislature clearly did not intend.
Laws exist to solve problems; interpretation should aid that goal. Consistency: A statute must be read as a whole. Primary Rules of Interpretation Statutory interpretation is the process by which courts
High-quality interpretation requires looking beyond just the section in question. G.P. Singh highlights various "aids" to help find meaning. Internal Aids (Within the Act) Sets out the main objectives. Headings: Provide context for a group of sections. Provisos: Limits or creates exceptions to the main clause. Definitions: The "internal dictionary" of the statute. External Aids (Outside the Act) Parliamentary History: Debates and Law Commission reports.
How similar words are used in related laws. Secondary Principles Justice Singh suggests a slight departure from literalism
Words must be read in their natural sense.
Only modify the language enough to fix the absurdity. 3. The Mischief Rule (Heydon’s Case)
The meaning of a word is judged by the company it keeps. If a word is ambiguous, look at the words surrounding it to define its scope. Ejusdem Generis